6 in 10 Americans Favor Deporting Immigrants who Entered the U.S. Unlawfully, New Poll Shows

A few weeks ago, a survey by Scripps News/Ipsos revealed that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's perceived winning issue this electoral cycle is immigration.

He has been pushing the issue at most rallies, with claims ranging from immigrants having "destroyed" European cities to promising to eliminate staples of the Biden administrations border policy, including the CBP One App and the CHVN Humanitarian Parole Program.

Mass deportations have also been at the heart of Trump's promises if elected, and a new poll by Ipsos and Syracuse University's Institute for Democracy, Journalism & Citizenship revealed on Friday what the majority of Americans think of the issue, with66% expressing a favorable opinion to this measure being applied to undocumented immigrants.

The sentiment spans political affiliations, with 90% of Republicans, 68% of independents, and nearly half of Democrats agreeing on the issue. However, only 13% of respondents support deporting legal immigrants, demonstrating a clear distinction in public opinion on the status of immigrants.

In fact, Americans overwhelmingly oppose deporting those who have entered legally (82%) with support for their removal dropping to just 12% when asked about immigrants in their local communities.

The survey also found that 65% of Americans view undocumented immigrants as a threat to democracy, with 42% identifying them as a major threat. This belief is particularly strong among Republicans, 87% of whom see undocumented immigrants as a democratic risk, while 46% of Democrats share this view. Conversely, a substantial 80% of respondents agree that the U.S. has always been a nation of immigrants, highlighting the cultural significance of immigration in the country.

The poll also explored public perception of political figures in the context of democratic threats. Former President Donald Trump was considered a major threat by 45% of respondents, with a marked partisan divide. In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris was viewed as a major threat by 33%, reflecting the polarized nature of American politics.

The findings also reveal that a majority of Americans, 52%, believe Republicans use too much violent and divisive rhetoric, while 42% say the same about Democrats. Additionally, 58% say Trump uses too much divisive language, while only 33% feel similarly about Harris.