WASHINGTON — A recent poll indicates that many adults in the United States support enhancing security at the southern border and targeted deportations. However, as President Donald Trump embarks on his second term and issues a series of bold executive actions on immigration, the data shows that his decisions may extend the national discourse beyond the existing limited agreement on the subject.
According to the survey conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, there is a strong appetite for action concerning security at the U.S.-Mexico border. Approximately half of U.S. adults believe that increasing border security should be a top priority for the federal government, with about 30% seeing it as a moderate priority. Only about 20% view it as a low priority.
A significant majority of Americans support the deportation of immigrants who have been convicted of violent crimes, aligning with the initial direction of the Trump administration’s deportation strategy. Nevertheless, Trump’s early executive actions have extended well beyond that focus, encompassing proposals to keep asylum-seekers in Mexico and efforts to end the automatic grant of citizenship.
Trump, belonging to the Republican Party, has signaled a continued commitment to a forceful and potentially polarizing immigration policy, pledging to deport millions who have entered the country illegally and declaring a “national emergency at our southern border.” Around 40% of American adults support the idea of deporting all immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally, while a similar proportion oppose such measures.
Most Americans believe local police should work with federal immigration authorities to facilitate deportations under specific conditions. However, any implementation of such measures could soon trigger public discontent. Recently, the Trump administration rescinded policies that limited the immigration arrests in sensitive locations like schools and places of worship, despite the likelihood of this shift being met with widespread unpopularity.
Immigration remains a pivotal topic leading into the 2024 election, with the poll revealing that it continues to hold significant importance for many Americans as Trump takes office again.
During the previous administration, illegal crossings at the border surged, with arrests from Mexico hitting a historical peak of 250,000 in December 2023. Despite Trump’s assertions regarding an influx of immigrants, border crossings have declined since then, aided by intensified enforcement efforts from Mexico and new orders from the Biden administration that significantly limited asylum claims.
However, the memories of escalating border crossings and the ensuing disarray when Republican governors transported migrants to northern states may have influenced public perception. The survey indicates that roughly half of Americans feel that the government is not allocating enough resources to border security, and there is overwhelming support for deporting individuals convicted of violent offenses.
“I want to see more people coming here legally,” expressed Manuel Morales, a 60-year-old Democrat residing near Moline, Illinois. Having entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico almost four decades ago, he adds, “However, I’m against these caravans arriving at the border with thousands of individuals at once.” Morales works as a technician for an internet service provider and conveys sympathy for migrants escaping dire conditions, yet he acknowledges that the volume of recent arrivals has become excessive.
Trump’s most ambitious proposals are not widely embraced. Although he seldom provides detailed plans for mass deportations, the survey reveals a strong division among Americans regarding the removal of individuals who lack legal status but have not engaged in violent crime, with only about 40% supportive and just over 40% against it.
Only about 30% of the population supports modifying the Constitution to prevent children born in the U.S. from automatically receiving citizenship if their parents are undocumented. Nearly half of the respondents oppose this idea, while about 20% remain neutral on the issue.
Doug DeVore, a 57-year-old Republican living in southern Indiana, identifies a severe imbalance in immigration during the Biden years. Still, he expresses discomfort with the prospect of extensive operations aimed at verifying individuals’ immigration statuses. “I might not be entirely against it,” he notes. “But there’s a thin line between gathering data on undocumented residents and the automatic deportation of individuals.” DeVore is employed in a candy factory.
Regarding local police collaboration with immigration enforcement, the survey shows that a sizable majority believes that police should partner with federal authorities for deportations in at least some scenarios. Only about 10% assert that local law enforcement should never support such actions.
Opinions diverge about the extent of this cooperation; roughly two-thirds of Republicans advocate for unwavering collaboration, while only about a quarter of Democrats agree. Nevertheless, few Democrats oppose any collaboration at all, as around two-thirds believe cooperation should occur within certain contexts.
However, a sudden increase in arrests could lead to backlash depending on the methodology used. Historically, U.S. immigration agents have refrained from conducting arrests near schools and other sensitive locations, but Trump’s rhetoric casts doubt on the continuation of these policies.
The poll illustrates that the arrest of individuals in sensitive locations like schools and churches is highly unpopular among the public, with only 20% somewhat or strongly supporting arrests in schools or churches. Solid majorities, about 60%, express strong opposition against these practices. Even within the Republican demographic, less than half support the apprehension of children in schools or individuals in religious institutions.
The data was collected from 1,147 adults between January 9-13, reflecting a range of American perspectives on immigration and border security. The margin of error for the overall poll stands at plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.
