NPR poll finds 54% of Americans believe border crisis is an 'invasion'

More than half of Americans agree that the border crisis is an "invasion," according to a recent NPR/Ipsos poll. 

The survey of 1,116 Americans over July 28-29 found that 54% of respondents agreed that it's at least somewhat true that there is an invasion along the southern border. A total of 76% of Republicans, 46% of independents, and 40% of Democrats agreed with the statement. 

Ipsos noted that the statement "shed[s] light on how misleading information or politically charged rhetoric about immigration has taken root among a significant portion of the American public," adding that media consumption played a role in the responses in addition to the respondents' identified political party. 

NPR commented in its article on the poll, saying, "Republican leaders are increasingly framing the situation as an 'invasion.' Immigrant advocates say the word has a long history in white nationalist circles, and warn that such extreme rhetoric could provoke more violence against immigrants. 

"Still, the polling shows that the word ‘invasion’ has been embraced by a wide range of Americans to describe what's happening at the border."