Shifting American Attitudes on Immigration
Recent data indicates a significant shift in public opinion regarding immigration in the United States. For the first time in several years, more Americans are viewing immigration positively, with a record number of people believing it is a good thing for the country. This marks a reversal of a four-year trend where concerns about the impact of immigration had been increasing.
According to new findings from Gallup, 79% of Americans now say that immigration is a good thing, which represents a notable increase compared to previous years. At the same time, the percentage of Americans who want immigration reduced has dropped significantly, from 55% in 2024 to 30% today. These changes come amid a decline in border crossings and ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to implement mass deportations.
Public Opinion on Immigration Policy
Public sentiment on how the Trump administration is handling immigration has also seen a shift. Among U.S. adults, 30% now say they want immigration reduced, while 38% would like it to remain the same and 26% believe it should be increased. Political affiliation plays a key role in shaping these views. While the percentage of Americans wanting immigration reduced has decreased across all political groups, Republicans remain the only group where a majority (48%) still support slowing down immigration.
Support for offering pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants has grown, with 78% of Americans now in favor, up from 70% in 2024. However, there has been a decline in support for increasing the number of Border Patrol agents, which has fallen to 59%. Similarly, support for expanding the border wall has dropped to 45%, and the idea of deporting all undocumented immigrants has lost traction, with only 38% now supporting the policy, down from 47% last year.
Mixed Reactions to Specific Policies
A proposed policy that would prevent alleged gang members from challenging their deportation in court has received mixed reactions. Half of Americans support the policy, while 45% oppose it. Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s overall approach to immigration has seen a drop in approval. According to recent surveys, 62% of Americans disapprove of how the administration is handling immigration, with 45% strongly disapproving. Only 21% of U.S. adults strongly approve of the administration’s actions.
These opinions are highly divided along partisan lines. While 85% of Republicans approve of the administration’s immigration policies, only 28% of independents and 2% of Democrats share this view. Race also influences attitudes, as the administration’s focus on Hispanic immigrants entering at the southern border has led to differing perspectives.
Racial and Ethnic Perspectives
Hispanic adults show lower support for deporting immigrants compared to other groups, with a 15-point difference. They are also more likely to support granting undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship, with a 13-point advantage. However, when it comes to the level of immigration, Hispanic adults are slightly more inclined to support reducing immigration, with 39% saying it should be decreased, compared to 30% of the general population.
These shifting attitudes reflect a complex and evolving national conversation about immigration, shaped by political, social, and economic factors. As the debate continues, public opinion remains a crucial element in determining the direction of future immigration policies.
