Shifting American Perspectives on Immigration
Recent surveys indicate a notable shift in the American public’s attitude toward immigration, with more people viewing it positively than at any point in recent years. This marks a reversal of a four-year trend where concerns about the impact of immigration on the country had been increasing.
According to new findings from Gallup, the percentage of Americans who want to reduce immigration has dropped significantly. It now stands at 30%, down from 55% in 2024. In contrast, 79% of Americans believe that immigration is a good thing, which is a record high. These results come amid a decline in border crossings and the ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to implement mass deportations.
Public Opinion on Immigration Policies
The poll numbers also reveal that more Americans are disapproving of how the Trump administration is managing immigration. Among U.S. adults, 30% now say they want immigration reduced, while 38% would like it to stay the same, and 26% believe it should be increased. Political affiliation plays a significant role in shaping these opinions. While the percentage of Americans wanting to reduce immigration has decreased across all political groups, Republicans remain the only group where a majority (48%) still favor slowing down immigration.
Support for offering pathways to citizenship to undocumented immigrants has also increased. Currently, 78% of Americans support allowing undocumented immigrants to become citizens, up from 70% in 2024. However, when it comes to enforcement measures, there has been a drop in support for increasing the number of Border Patrol agents, which now stands at 59%. Similarly, support for expanding the border wall has fallen to 45%.
Deportation and Legal Challenges
Public opinion on the deportation of all undocumented immigrants has also shifted. Only 38% of Americans now support this policy, down from 47% last year. Another divisive issue is a proposed policy that would prevent alleged gang members from challenging their deportation in court. The country is evenly split on this matter, with half supporting the policy and 45% opposing it.
The Trump administration’s immigration policies have seen a decline in public approval. A majority of Americans, 62%, disapprove of how the administration is handling immigration, with 45% expressing strong disapproval. Only 21% of U.S. adults strongly approve of the administration’s approach.
Partisan and Racial Divides
These views are sharply divided along partisan lines. While 85% of Republicans approve of the administration’s handling of immigration, only 28% of independents and a mere 2% of Democrats share this sentiment. Race also plays a significant role, as the administration’s focus on immigration has largely targeted Hispanic immigrants who entered the country through the southern border.
Hispanic adults show lower support for deporting immigrants, with a 15-point gap compared to other groups. They are also more likely to support providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, with a 13-point advantage. However, when it comes to the level of immigration, Hispanic adults are slightly more inclined to want it reduced, with 39% saying so compared to 30% of the general population.
