Trump's immigration policy gains support, but opinions differ on its extent, according to our poll results
Trump's Deportation Approach Polarizes Public Opinion
Heading into the weekend, the Trump administration's immigration crackdown has divided Americans, with strong backing from the Republican base but contrasting views about who's being targeted, and how many.
A slight majority feels the administration is prioritizing dangerous criminals for deportation, with this group expressing great support for the program, believing it's making the country safer. However, if people don't think it's criminals in the spotlight, support plummets dramatically.
Interestingly, the survey was conducted just before Saturday's protests in Los Angeles.
When it comes to the number of people getting the boot, more isn't necessarily better in the public eye. Half of Americans say Trump is deporting more than expected during his 2024 campaign, and most in this group disapprove of the program. Some of this disapproval stems from a desire for due process, with these people more likely to argue potential deportees should have a hearing.
Generally, more people see the program making America safer compared to less safe. This sentiment is tied to the belief that the administration is focusing on deporting dangerous criminals. However, those who feel the administration is attempting to deport more people than anticipated express less approval of the program.
On the issue of process, a significant portion of Americans believe it's not acceptable if legal residents are mistakenly deported as part of the program. While MAGA Republicans are divided on this matter, a majority still deem such an action unacceptable.
This divide is certainly political, and over time, it's grown. Independents aren't as supportive of the deportation program as they were a couple of months ago, leaving the GOP base as the only group backing it with a majority. However, this support is overwhelming among Republicans.
Additionally, there's a disagreement over the program's potential economic impact. While general views about safety are net-positive, more Americans think the deportation program will weaken rather than strengthen the economy.
Views on the economic impact also connect to long-standing opinions about immigrants in general – not specifically those in the country illegally. Individuals who believe immigrants take jobs away from Americans are more approving of the deportation program. This perspective is more tied to ideology and partisanship than income, with majorities of conservatives and Republicans echoing this sentiment.
On the other hand, a larger share of Americans believe immigrants fill jobs that Americans won't do, which in turn is related to the view that the deportation program will weaken the U.S. economy.
In summary, there's a gap in public opinion regarding the deportation program, with more people liking the goals than the approach.
Turning our attention to the economy, opinions have steadied slightly – they aren't majority positive and haven't been for years, but they are no longer at their lows from the past winter.
Support for tariffs in general remains net negative, as Americans continue to think they'll lead to higher prices, even in the long run. As with the deportation program, more people like what they think are Trump's goals with tariffs than his approach. Most Americans believe Trump is trying to help U.S. manufacturing and business, though there's plenty of cynicism too, with even more saying he's trying to help the wealthy.
Moving on to another economic front, few people feel they know a lot about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act right now. This resembles the early phases of other big bills in Congress – like the Build Back Better Act in 2021. As the legislation is still being debated, this lack of detail is to be expected.
In the coming weeks, focus will shift towards Congress as they debate the bill. Already, there's a note of doubt among Democrats – whose party is in the minority – about their party's ability to challenge Trump's policies. Interestingly, Donald Trump is ranked highest among the three (Trump, Republicans, and Democrats) when it comes to fighting for the people.
Sources:1. CBS News Poll: Trump Approved on Immigration but Not on the Economy2. Trump's Deportation Plans Spark Concerns About Family Separations and Community Unrest3. The Political Divide in Public Opinion Over Trump's Deportation Program
- The Trump administration's immigration policy, particularly the focus on deporting dangerous criminals, has been a contentious topic in the realm of politics and general news.
- The survey results indicate that while a majority of Americans support the deportation of dangerous criminals, there's a significant drop in support when it's believed that innocent people are being targeted.
- In the realm of finance, half of Americans feel that the Trump administration is deporting more people than anticipated during his 2024 campaign, and most in this group disapprove of the program due to concerns about due process.
- The approach to policy-and-legislation, such as the deportation program, has polarized public opinion, with more people trepidatious about the potential economic impact on business and education.
- The upcoming elections will likely shed more light on the public's stance towards the Trump administration's immigration policy and overall approach to policy-and-legislation.
