Nearly HALF of Americans view migration at the southern border as a serious problem – with a spike of 7% between May and now among those who say it is a 'crisis'

A growing number of Americans are concerned about increasing migration at the southern border — with 75 percent calling it a “crisis” or “very serious” problem, according to the latest polls.

Those who view the situation at the border as a “crisis” have been on the rise since the spring, when only 38 percent called it a “crisis” in May, compared to the 45 percent who feel the same way now.

The latest figures come amid a massive increase in illegal immigration across the southern border this winter, with thousands lining up at a time to be processed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Meanwhile, reports emerged last week showing that CBP is on pace this month to process the most migrants in the agency's history, with more than 304,000 encounters in one month.

It comes as record numbers of migrants arrive at the border every month – including December, which is on pace for the highest number of illegal arrivals ever: 304,000

A new CBS News/YouGov poll finds that 18 percent think the border crisis is only “somewhat serious” and another 7 percent think what's happening at the southern border is “not that big of a problem at all.”

More respondents disagree with President Joe Biden's handling of the southern border compared to how Republicans in Congress are handling it.

It comes as the Biden administration tries to shift blame for the ongoing crisis to Congress, with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas intervening in Senate negotiations.

Republicans want a complete overhaul of the US immigration system, with stricter rules on illegal border crossings. They are threatening to hold even more aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan hostage in exchange for passing a comprehensive bill that would make it easier to deport illegal immigrants.

The latest shows that the feeling that the border is in 'crisis' has risen by 7% since May

Meanwhile, the new proposed rules would essentially reimplement pandemic-era Title 42, which would have allowed CBP agents to immediately deport migrants seeking asylum to Mexico while their proceedings were underway — rather than releasing them into the country pending release of a court date.

Progressives and immigration advocates claim this is inhumane.

The CBS/YouGov poll shows that 44 percent of respondents want migrants to leave the country while they wait for asylum hearings, while 43 percent say they believe migrants should remain in the U.S. while they wait.

Meanwhile, 13 percent say they want the migrants deported without any chance of return.