The Republican party has been criticizing the state of the nation under President Joe Biden, pointing to increased crime rates, a surge in immigration, and rampant inflation. However, recent statistics suggest that these issues are beginning to improve.
As the 2024 elections approach, the U.S. is showing significant improvement in areas where Biden’s administration has been heavily criticized by the GOP. During the pandemic, violent crime rates in U.S. cities soared, becoming a major concern for voters in the 2022 midterm elections. Republicans blamed Biden and Democratic leaders for the rise in crime, leading many Democrats to adopt a more moderate stance on law enforcement. However, a study from the Council on Criminal Justice indicates that homicides have decreased by 9% in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, in 37 major cities. Although violent crime rates remain higher than in 2019, they are generally on a downward trend.
In terms of immigration, the number of illegal border crossings fell to its lowest in over two years in June, following the implementation of Biden’s new asylum rule. This rule, which makes it more difficult to obtain asylum, replaced a policy from the pandemic era that allowed for the quick expulsion of migrants. Despite criticism from immigration advocates and some Democrats, the new rule appears to have prevented an anticipated increase in summer border crossings. However, a court ruling could potentially disrupt the current stability at the border. Despite the decrease in border crossings, House Republicans are continuing their efforts to impeach Homeland Security chief Alejandro Mayorkas over what they term an “illegal immigration crisis.”
Inflation has been a major source of voter dissatisfaction, negatively impacting perceptions of Biden’s economy despite otherwise positive economic conditions and job market trends.