WASHINGTON (AP) — Simply months after President Donald Trump returned to workplace amid a wave of anti-immigration sentiment, the share of U.S. adults saying immigration is a “good factor” for the nation has jumped considerably — together with amongst Republicans, in response to new Gallup polling.
About 8 in 10 People, 79%, say immigration is “a superb factor” for the nation at present, a rise from 64% a yr in the past and a excessive level within the practically 25-year pattern. Solely about 2 in 10 U.S. adults say immigration is a nasty factor proper now, down from 32% final yr.
Throughout Democratic President Joe Biden’s time period in workplace, damaging views of immigration had elevated markedly, reaching a excessive level within the months earlier than Trump, a Republican, took workplace. The brand new Gallup knowledge suggests U.S. adults are returning to extra pro-immigrant views that would complicate Trump’s push for sweeping deportations and different anti-immigration insurance policies. The ballot reveals reducing help for the kind of mass deportations Trump has championed since earlier than he was elected.
Since taking workplace, Trump has known as on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to do all in its energy to ship “the only largest Mass Deportation Program in Historical past.” His administration has additionally pushed to restrict entry to federal advantages for immigrants who lack authorized standing, sought to revoke the citizenship of immigrants who commit crimes and is working to finish birthright citizenship for youngsters born to these with out authorized standing or who’re within the nation quickly.
Usually, People’ views of immigration insurance policies have shifted dramatically within the final yr, the Gallup polling reveals — together with amongst Republicans, who’ve grow to be far more content material with immigration ranges since Trump took workplace however who’ve additionally grown extra supportive of pathways to citizenship for folks within the nation illegally.
The broader pattern additionally reveals that public opinion is usually far more favorable to immigrants than it was many years in the past.
The overwhelming majority of U.S. adults say immigration is nice
People’ extra constructive view on immigration is pushed primarily by a shift amongst Republicans and independents.
About two-thirds of Republicans now say immigrants are “a superb factor” for the nation, up from 39% final yr. And independents moved from about two-thirds final yr to 80% this yr.
Democrats have maintained their overwhelmingly constructive view of immigration in the previous couple of years.
The share of People who need immigration decreased has dropped considerably
Within the time since Trump took workplace, Republicans have grow to be extra glad with the extent of immigration within the nation.
The share of People who need immigration “decreased” in the USA dropped from 55% to 30%. Whereas fewer People now need to lower the quantity of people that come to the U.S. from different nations, extra need immigration ranges stored the identical than need greater immigration ranges. About 4 in 10 say immigration must be stored at its present degree, and solely 26% say immigration must be elevated.
The ballot suggests Republicans’ sharp anti-immigrant views highlighted earlier than November’s election — which helped return Trump to the White Home — have largely light. The share of Republicans saying immigration must be decreased dropped from a excessive of 88% to 48% within the final yr. Near 4 in 10 Republicans now say immigration ranges ought to stay the identical, and solely about 1 in 10 would love a rise.
A lot of that Republican motion probably comes from help for the Trump administration’s stringent immigration enforcement, however there are additionally indicators within the Gallup polling that Republicans have grow to be extra supportive of pathways to citizenship for immigrants within the nation illegally and extra prone to see advantages from immigration that may very well be at odds with the Trump administration’s priorities.
Extra People again a pathway to citizenship
Most People favor permitting immigrants dwelling within the U.S. illegally the prospect to grow to be U.S. residents in the event that they meet sure necessities over a time frame, the ballot reveals.
Nearly 9 in 10 U.S. adults, 85%, favor a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who had been delivered to the U.S. illegally as kids, and practically as many say they favor a path to citizenship for all immigrants within the nation illegally so long as they meet sure necessities.
That elevated help for pathways to citizenship largely comes from Republicans, about 6 in 10 of whom now help that, up from 46% final yr. Assist was already very excessive amongst independents and Democrats.
Assist for deporting immigrants within the nation illegally has additionally decreased throughout the board, however much less considerably. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults now favor deporting immigrants who’re within the nation illegally, down from about half a yr in the past.