The percentage of Americans who consider immigration as the country's top problem more than tripled from June to July, according to a new Gallup poll.

According to the poll, 5 percent of adult Americans, or 1 in 6, surveyed named immigration as the U.S.' top problem in June. That percentage shot up to 17 percent in July, representing the highest percentage since 2006. Immigration is now tied for first place as the most frequent issue Americans list when asked to state the U.S.' "top problem," according to the report. The issue is tied with "dissatisfaction with government," which 16 percent of participants named.

Concerns about immigration have been increasing over the past few years.

"... Gallup found the issue increasing to 10 percent in 2010, at a time when a new immigration law in Arizona was making news," the report explains. "And prior to that, it increased twice in 2006 to 15 percent or higher, amid congressional debate over immigration reform."

Republicans were more concerned with immigration, with 23 percent of them naming it as a top issue versus 11 percent of democrats. In addition, those over 50 years of age were more likely to consider immigration a top problem versus those younger than age 50. Similarly, those in the West named immigration more frequently than those in other regions.

The Gallup report suggests the change in Americans' priorities could affect upcoming elections. Survey participants were evenly split between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party at 35 percent each when asked which political party could better solve the problem.

"While the 17 percent of Americans naming immigration as the top problem is not large in absolute terms, the fact that the issue is of particular concern to Republicans and older Americans -- both groups that Republicans need to turn out in force in the midterms -- could be critical to the outcome," the report says.

The economy and unemployment were the respective third and fourth most named issues. Fifteen percent named the economy the U.S.' biggest issue, and 14 percent named unemployment. Both concerns are down from January, when they were named by 18 and 16 percent of participants respectively.

The percentage of people who named Healthcare as the biggest concern was just 8 percent, down by half since January, when it was at 16 percent.
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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

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