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By Jesus Mesa
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Hispanic Americans' support for Donald Trump has dropped sharply since the start of his second term, driven by dissatisfaction over his administration's immigration policies and the perception that Hispanic people are unfairly targeted, according to a CBS News/YouGov poll.
The CBS survey, conducted July 16–18 among 2,343 U.S. adults with a margin of error of ±2.5 percentage points, shows that Hispanic approval of Trump — which stood at about 50 percent when he returned to office — has fallen to roughly one-third.
The poll found that a majority of Hispanic respondents now disapprove of Trump's deportation program, detention practices and his handling of inflation.
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Why It Matters
Hispanic voters have historically leaned Democratic but became an increasingly contested demographic during Trump's political rise. His gains among this group were notable in the 2024 election, when he won 48 percent of the Hispanic vote, surpassing the previous Republican high set by President George W. Bush in 2004.
Analysts attributed this shift to economic and immigration concerns, which emerged as the primary issues for many Hispanic voters during the election, according to exit polls.
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What to Know
The CBS News poll suggests this decline is driven largely by across-the-board dissatisfaction with the president's deportation policies. While the program once enjoyed majority support early in Trump's term, it now registers as "slightly net-negative," according to the poll.
These findings come as immigration has moved to the forefront of Trump's second-term agenda, with stepped-up enforcement and detentions becoming more visible across the country.
The survey reflects a growing sentiment that Trump's immigration policies have gone too far. Fifty-three percent of Americans — and 63 percent of Hispanics — now say Trump and the Republicans are handling immigration in a manner that is "too tough".
Voters also appear surprised by the scope of the deportation program. More than half of respondents believe his administration is deporting more people than they expected, and 56 percent say it is targeting non-dangerous individuals rather than focusing on criminals.
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The poll also found that 64 percent of respondents believe Hispanic people are subjected to more immigration and deportation searches than other groups, and of those, 78 percent consider such treatment unfair.
Even the use of detention facilities, which once divided public opinion, is now underwater: Nearly 60 percent disapprove of how the Trump administration is using them to hold migrants it intends to deport.
The economy, another major issue for voters, appears to be adding to Trump's challenges. Economic dissatisfaction appears to be contributing to the shift as well. Only 36 percent of Hispanics approve of Trump's handling of inflation, and 70 percent of all respondents say his administration is not doing enough to lower prices.
Approval of Trump's overall job performance now sits at 42 percent, with 58 percent disapproving, according to the poll.
What People Are Saying
Eduardo Gamarra, a professor at Florida International University, told Newsweek: "Hispanics are increasingly behaving like the general electorate. The economy is the main issue, followed by concerns unrelated to immigration. Second- and third-generation Hispanics are also behaving more like their American counterparts, sharing similar cultural preferences."
Mike Madrid, political consultant and co-founder of the Lincoln Project, wrote on Substack: "When Republicans and Democrats are splitting the Latino vote 50–50, it's time to acknowledge Latinos aren't who you want them to be. We are who we are, and it's time the parties started listening — or losing."
What Happens Next
As the 2026 midterms approach, both parties are likely to intensify their outreach to Hispanic voters — a demographic that could prove decisive in key battleground districts. Republicans will aim to maintain their current level of support, while Democrats will work to win it back.
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