...
By Martha McHardy
US News Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Donald Trump's approval rating on immigration is plunging, polling shows.
Pollster G Elliott Morris' tracker shows that Trump's net approval rating on immigration has fallen by almost 7 points since June 8, when it stood at +5.4 points. It now stands at -1.3 points. This represents the fastest decline in his rating since the dip after press coverage of Kilmar Abrego Garcia peaked in April.
Over the same time period, a tracker published by pollster Nate Silver shows Trump's approval rating on immigration has fallen by 6 points from +3.9 points to -2.1 points.
Read More on U.S.
Why It Matters
It comes after Trump sent 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines to Los Angeles in response to reported violence against law enforcement, specifically ICE agents carrying out deportation raids in the city.
Since then, there has been widespread backlash against Trump's decision, with nationwide protests planned this weekend. And polls show that public opinion may be shifting in response.
What To Know
Of the ten most recent polls which surveyed voters on immigration, six show Trump with a negative net approval rating on immigration as low as -15 points, while just four place him in positive territory.
A Washington Post poll conducted on June 10 showed Trump with just 37 percent approval and 52 percent disapproval, giving him a net rating of -15, the worst among the polls listed. A similar negative margin was found in a Quinnipiac University poll from June 5-9, which recorded a -11 net approval on immigration. That is down from -3 in February, while AP-NORC reported a -7 point net rating, down from -2 in May.
On the other end of the spectrum, surveys from John Zogby Strategies and RMG Research, both conducted in late May, gave Trump +16 and +14 net ratings, respectively. These polls had Trump at 56 percent approval, far exceeding the support seen in the more recent Washington Post and Quinnipiac data. However, the John Zogby poll was down from a high of +23 in January.
Several middle-ground surveys add further complexity. Morning Consult (June 6–8) found a +9 net approval (51 percent approve vs. 42 percent disapprove), down from +12 in May, while YouGov polling sponsored by the Economist (June 6–9) showed a more modest +4 net rating, down from +7 last week.
Nonetheless, some polls still show that voters largely approve of Trump's broader immigration agenda, which includes carrying out mass deportations.
...
According to CNN's Harry Enten, Trump now holds a net positive approval rating on immigration, rising from -21 in June 2017 to +1 today.
A YouGov/CBS News poll conducted June 4-6 found 54 percent of Americans support Trump's deportation program targeting undocumented immigrants, surpassing his ratings on the economy (42 percent) and inflation (39 percent). Additionally, 51 percent approve of ICE conducting searches.
An RMG Research poll echoed that result, with 58 percent backing the deportation efforts. And in an Insider Advantage survey, 59 percent approved of Trump's decision to send National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to the protests.
But the support has limits. Some polls show that Trump's handling of deportations is broadly unpopular. A survey conducted by YouGov/Economist found that just 39 percent of respondents approve of how the former president is managing deportations, while 50 percent disapprove, giving him a net approval rating of minus 11. A separate Quinnipiac poll showed even deeper dissatisfaction, with 40 percent approval and 56 percent disapproval—netting a negative 16-point rating on the issue.
Meanwhile, 56 percent disapprove of how Trump's mass deportation program is being implemented, according to the CBS/YouGov poll. A separate YouGov survey found only 39 percent approve of the administration's overall approach to deportations, while 50 percent disapprove.
The issue remains deeply polarizing as 93 percent of Republicans support the deportation plan, compared to just 18 percent of Democrats. Independents are divided. Nearly half of Americans believe Trump is going further than he promised during his campaign.
His military deployment is even more controversial. A June 9-10 YouGov poll found only 34 percent of Americans support sending Marines to Los Angeles, while 47 percent disapprove. A majority—56 percent—say state and local governments, not the federal government, should handle the situation.
"At this point, Trump has moved policy noticeably beyond what public opinion has sanctioned," G Elliott Morris said in a post on X.
In a blog post, he added: "The events of the last week mark an acute degradation in the rule of law and constitutional protections for free speech in America."
What People Are Saying
G Elliott Morris said in a post on X: "Polls show voters don't like mass deportations or the federal troop deployment. At this point, Trump has moved policy noticeably beyond what public opinion has sanctioned."
What Happens Next
Trump's approval rating could fluctuate in the coming weeks, depending on the outcome of key events, particularly how demonstrations against ICE actions unfold in Los Angeles and other major cities.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines