A recent CNN poll conducted by SSRS reveals that a significant majority of Americans oppose the recent efforts by Donald Trump’s administration to amplify its deportation program. The survey indicates that 55% of respondents believe the president has exceeded acceptable limits in his approach to deporting immigrants living in the United States illegally, marking a substantial increase of 10 percentage points since February.
Opposition to Trump’s deportation policies has notably intensified among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents. The poll shows that a staggering 90% of Democratic-aligned adults now assert that the president’s deportation strategy has gone too far. In stark contrast, only 15% of Republican-aligned respondents share the same sentiment.
A majority of 57% of Americans oppose plans to construct new detention facilities that could accommodate up to 100,000 undocumented immigrants. Additionally, 53% of those surveyed are against increasing the budget for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by billions of dollars, which is a key priority in the recent sweeping policy bill signed into law by Trump.
Furthermore, nearly 60% of respondents are against the administration's efforts to terminate birthright citizenship. This issue is currently under judicial review, as the courts examine Trump’s executive order aiming to prevent citizenship for children born on American soil to parents who are unlawfully present or are legally in the country temporarily.
When it comes to perceptions of safety, just under half (46%) of Americans believe that Trump’s immigration policies make the country safer. Meanwhile, only 42% think that the federal government is adhering to legal protocols in its deportation efforts. Both of these figures have remained relatively stable since April, reflecting ongoing public skepticism.
The poll further reveals that 59% of Americans oppose the arrest and detention of undocumented immigrants who have lived in the United States for years without any criminal record. This finding aligns with a broader trend in immigration polling: support for immigration enforcement declines when the focus is on long-term residents or individuals without criminal histories.
While a quarter of Republicans oppose actions against this demographic, nearly half (47%) still support such measures, which is considerably less than the 83% approval rating for Trump’s overall handling of deportations.
As public opinion shifts, support for specific immigration policies varies depending on their presentation. Interestingly, 16% of Americans who disapprove of increased funding for ICE also acknowledge that spending on “border security, enforcement of immigration laws, and detention” could be a reason to support Trump’s recent legislation.
Moreover, the public is divided on Trump’s proposals to deport US citizens convicted of violent crimes, with 37% in favor and 39% opposed. Additionally, there is narrow support (43% to 35%) for prioritizing the revocation of citizenship from naturalized citizens convicted of specific crimes, indicating a complex landscape of opinions surrounding immigration enforcement.
When asked to identify the most critical issue facing the nation, 20% of Americans cited immigration, ranking it just below economic concerns. This marks a subtle shift from earlier in the year when Republican-leaning individuals were significantly more inclined to prioritize immigration over Democrats. The gap has now narrowed to 10 points, reflecting growing Democratic opposition to Trump’s policies.
The poll also highlights a general support for protests against the Trump administration's deportation policies, with 55% of Americans believing these demonstrations are justified. A majority (47% to 38%) express more concern about potential government overreach in cracking down on protests than the protests themselves becoming chaotic. This sentiment is especially pronounced among Democratic-aligned individuals (78%), younger adults under 35 (63%), and people of color (59%).
Many Americans (59%) oppose Trump’s use of National Guard troops in response to immigration protests, even if a state’s governor does not support such action. This indicates a strong desire for the separation of military involvement from civilian protests and immigration issues.
The CNN poll was conducted by SSRS from July 10-13, surveying a random national sample of 1,057 US adults. The results have a margin of sampling error of ±3.5 percentage points, providing a comprehensive insight into the evolving opinions on immigration and deportation policies under Trump’s administration.
