Trump’s immigration policies are viewed more negatively than positively by Americans

The current U.S. immigration policy, which has defined much of the Trump administration’s five-month term, is not approved by a majority of Americans. According to the latest survey conducted by Pew Research, the Trump administration’s overall approach to immigration is viewed more negatively than positively, with 42% approving and 47% disapproving.

The mass expulsions of undocumented immigrants, which Trump wants to increase even further to achieve the largest deportation in history, are dividing citizens. Half of Americans say the administration’s immigration policies when it comes to deporting undocumented migrants are “too careless,” while 39% say they are “about right” and 9% say they are “too careful.”

Trump had announced a crusade against immigration during his campaign run, but the measures he has taken since January 20 have exceeded many expectations. The Republican’s rhetoric was that deportations would focus, at least initially, on undocumented immigrants who had committed crimes, but the reality has been very different.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in restaurants, factories, and other workplaces, or in courthouses where immigrants go to attend scheduled hearings, are disliked by the majority. Fifty-four percent disapprove of increasing raids in workplaces where people in the U.S. illegally may be working, compared to 45 percent who approve.

Pew notes that the survey was conducted among 5,044 citizens between June 2 and 8, before ICE launched its most aggressive raids in Los Angeles and other cities, triggering massive protests and the deployment of the National Guard and Marines to the California city. Researchers noted that the views expressed in the survey were “largely split along partisan lines, with Republicans broadly supportive and Democrats opposed.”

Hundreds of thousands of people critical of immigration policies and the use of force to quell protests took to the streets on Saturday, June 14th in demonstrations organized by the No Kings platform and other groups.

Partisan opinions

Respondents’ opinions are heavily influenced by their party preference. Seventy-eight percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents approve of the Administration’s approach to immigration, including 51% who strongly approve. Only 12% disapprove.

In contrast, 81% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters disapprove, with 63% strongly disapproving. Only 9% approve.

Opposition is growing to the administration’s dismantling of programs that have let in migrants fleeing their countries due to violence, natural disasters, or persecution. Sixty percent of Americans disapprove of the suspension of most asylum applications, and a similar percentage opposes the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which has allowed citizens of countries such as Venezuela and Haiti to reside and work in the U.S.

Contrary to the government’s position, which, by canceling programs, is increasing the number of undocumented immigrants by adding people who until now had legally resided in the country, 65% of those surveyed support the opposite: providing a path to legal status for those without it. Furthermore, 36% believe that these migrants should be eligible for citizenship if they meet certain requirements.

The two reasons the government uses to justify the deportation of undocumented immigrants are that they exploit public resources and that they are criminals. Experts and numerous studies have proven that the reality is that undocumented migrants cannot access federal benefits, such as healthcare and subsidies, while on the other hand they contribute with their taxes to the public coffers.

Furthermore, business associations have warned that mass deportations of workers with no criminal record are causing labor shortages, product scarcity and rising prices. The Pew survey shows that a majority of Americans expect these policies to cost taxpayers money (53%) rather than save money (29%). And more Americans say these policies will make the U.S. economy weaker (46%) rather than stronger (34%).

Public opinion is more divided on the use of state and local law enforcement in deportation efforts (50% approve, 49% disapprove). The administration has pushed states to sign 287g agreements, which require local agents to cooperate with ICE in their arrests, while threatening those who refuse, the so-called sanctuary states and cities.

Support for the wall

Construction of a wall on the border with Mexico has gained support over time. Fifty-six percent of Americans favor expanding it, up from 46% in 2019. Republican support for a border wall remains high (88%), and Democratic support, although still low, has increased from 14% six years ago to 27%.

Trump’s approval rating (41%) has remained virtually unchanged in recent months, but is still lower than it was in the first weeks of his term.

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