Border security, inflation top issues for Texans ahead of presidential debate, UT Tyler poll finds

TYLER, Texas ( KETK ) — Ahead of the presidential debate on Thursday, a recent poll found that top issues for registered voters in Texas include border security and inflation.

In a University of Texas at Tyler poll , the top issue for Texans continued to be securing the border. Of registered voters surveyed, 63% said they disapproved of how Biden has handled immigration in the U.S.-Mexico border.

However, 59% said they approved of Biden's recent executive order that would partially shut down asylum processing along the border that would allow U.S. immigration officials to more quickly deport migrants trying to cross the border illegally.

UT Tyler also found that 52% of Texas voters believed a wall along the Texas-Mexico border was necessary for a safe border, with 36% of that total strongly agreeing.

"Debating these issues at the forefront of a campaign can also shape public support for issues that are somewhat similar like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA . Ten years after President Obama's executive order, support among Texans was the lowest since we started polling about the issue, at 41%," UT Tyler professor and poll director Dr. Ken Wink said.

The economy is another issue Texans will be eyeing closely during Thursday's debate.

UT Tyler found that registered voters believe inflation is the second most important policy Texas faces. In fact, 89% of those polled claimed that increased prices have impacted their current household financial situation.

"In thinking about the national economy , 24% of Texas respondents think the economy has gotten somewhat worse, while 35% say it has gotten much worse, so these views about the economy are hurting President Biden with Texas voters," Wink said.

The UT Tyler Poll is a statewide random sample of 1,144 registered voters that was conducted between June 11 and June 20.