By Molly Bilker

Despite heated political rhetoric about the U.S.-Mexico border, people who live in the region largely view themselves as one community, believe in making it easier to cross back and forth and do not favor building a new wall, according to a Cronkite News-Univision News-Dallas Morning News poll. The poll is the first of its kind in more than 15 years and reflects the attitudes of nearly 1,500 respondents in 14 U.S. and Mexican cities from California to Texas.

A majority — 69 percent on the Mexico side and 59 percent on the U.S. side — believe the current presidential campaign is hurting the region, an area that’s one of the most culturally vibrant parts of both countries. Poll respondent Ivonne Gonzalez, 56, of Nogales, Arizona, echoed voices of residents who want more bridges, not walls, declaring:

“I’m not in favor of building another wall,” said Gonzalez. “But our opinions as residents are not taken into consideration.”

Read the rest of the story here: http://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2016/07/17/border-poll-overview/