Poll reveals deep US divide on immigration as Trump touts deportations

A recent YouGov poll conducted for The Economist reveals a deeply divided American electorate on immigration policy, with 40% of respondents favoring the deportation of all undocumented immigrants regardless of criminal history. The survey, conducted in the United States, comes as the Trump administration publicizes data on its immigration enforcement actions, showcasing a central theme of its domestic agenda ahead of the upcoming election cycle. The results underscore the significant partisan split on this key issue.

A Partisan Chasm on Deportation Policy

The polling data illustrates a sharp political divide. Support for blanket deportation is significantly higher among Trump supporters, with 67% in favor. In contrast, only 14% of those who back Kamala Harris agree with this approach. Independent voters are almost evenly split, with 41% supporting deportation and 39% believing undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay under certain conditions. This polarization frames the national debate as the administration continues to implement its border and immigration strategy.

Administration Points to Enforcement Results

The political discourse around the poll is amplified by recent announcements from US officials. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that over 480,000 undocumented immigrants have been arrested since President Trump took office in January. Separately, the department announced that an estimated 2 million illegal immigrants have left the US since January 20, a figure it claims includes approximately 1.6 million voluntary departures.

Broader Economic and Law Enforcement Context

Beyond immigration, the poll reflected broader public sentiment, including significant economic pessimism. Only 15% of Americans reported feeling financially better off compared to a year ago. Meanwhile, President Trump used his Truth Social platform to praise what he termed "record-breaking" law enforcement activity, citing FBI statistics on arrests of violent criminals, seizures of illegal weapons and fentanyl, and operations against child predators.