Poll: Trump’s Immigration Stance Criticized by Many

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    In Washington, President Donald Trump’s approach to immigration is viewed as a key strength while he implements comprehensive measures to increase deportations and target individuals living in the U.S. illegally, indicates a recent poll.

    The poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that 46% of American adults approve of Trump’s immigration policies. This approval rating is notably higher, by almost 10 percentage points, compared to his ratings on economic and trade policies.

    Trump’s immigration measures remain divisive; however, there is less consensus on whether he has overstepped in this area compared to other issues. Despite this, there seems to be little demand for a harsher approach. Approximately half of Americans believe that Trump has “gone too far” with deporting immigrants. Opinions are mixed regarding the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants accused of being gang members to El Salvador, and more individuals oppose than support revoking foreign students’ visas due to their involvement in pro-Palestinian activism.

    Immigration has been a significant element for Trump, particularly among Republicans. In last November’s election, immigration was a crucial factor, particularly for Trump supporters who, at the time, were more receptive to stringent immigration policies than four years prior. Despite legal challenges, immigration remains a favorable issue for Trump in public perception.

    Similar to a survey conducted in March, nearly half of Americans support Trump’s immigration stance, while approximately 4 out of 10 approve of his overall presidency. Republican enthusiasm predominantly fuels Trump’s positive approval ratings on immigration. About 80% of Republicans support Trump’s immigration policies, a support level that supersedes their approval of his economic handling or trade negotiations.

    Other demographics are less impressed by Trump’s immigration strategies. Approximately 40% of independents and only about 20% of Democrats express approval of Trump’s immigration policies. Furthermore, the poll indicates that relatively few Americans are highly concerned that increased immigration enforcement will directly affect them or someone they know. Around 20% of Americans expressed they are “extremely” or “very” worried about being directly impacted. Concern is more prevalent among Democrats than Republicans, and Hispanic adults display more apprehension compared to their white or Black counterparts.

    About half of Americans perceive Trump’s deportation methods as excessive. Roughly a third consider his approach to be “about right,” and about 20% feel he hasn’t gone far enough. Regarding the new tariffs on other countries, roughly 60% feel Trump has been overly aggressive.

    When considering Trump’s overall approach to immigration, even among those who approve of his policies, there is no significant demand for escalated measures. Among the supporters, about 60% believe Trump’s strategies are “about right,” while roughly 30% argue he hasn’t been assertive enough.

    The survey highlights division regarding large-scale deportations under the Trump administration, a sentiment captured while Sen. Chris Van Hollen was advocating for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, mistakenly deported to El Salvador due to an “administrative error.”

    The findings show that 38% of Americans support the deportation of all unauthorized immigrants in the U.S., a slight decrease from before Trump assumed office. The opinions are similarly divided over Trump’s policy concerning Venezuelan immigrants alleged to be gang members.

    However, the public strongly opposes revoking foreign students’ visas over involvement in pro-Palestinian activities, an emerging contentious topic. Around half of U.S. adults oppose this action, with about 30% in favor. The proposal is particularly unpopular among Americans possessing college degrees, where about 60% express opposition compared to around 40% of non-graduates.

    The poll, encompassing 1,260 adults, was held from April 17-21, utilizing a sampling method aligned to represent the U.S. populace. It carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.