New Yorkers Divided on Whether to Deport Non-Criminal Migrants as Trump Crackdown Continues, Siena Poll

As the Trump administration's immigration crackdown continues, voters in his home state of New York, overwhelmingly support deporting migrants convicted of crimes, while they are more divided with doing the same with non-criminal ones, a recent Siena College poll shows.

The recent Siena College Poll was conducted between January 27-30, 2025, among over 800 registered voters in New York State. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

Support for deportation of criminal immigrants was plenty. The study showed that 79% of voters support deporting undocumented immigrants convicted of a crime, while only 11% oppose it. However, when it comes to non-criminal migrants, the picture is not as clear.

"While there is overwhelming support for deporting illegal immigrants with a criminal record— 91% of Republicans, 86% of independents and 69% of Democrats— voters are closely divided on deporting illegal immigrants without a criminal record," Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said. "Nearly two-thirds of Republicans and a plurality of independents support deporting non-criminal immigrants, but Democrats oppose such deportations, 59-24%."

Respondents also opposed paying for health care for undocumented immigrants through Medicaid, 59-26%. Immigrants in New York have more health insurance options compared to other states. Undocumented migrants who are not pregnant can qualify for Medicaid only for emergency services. Beneficiaries of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) can also qualify for Medicaid in New York.

"New Yorkers continue to say— at least Republicans and independents do— that the state should support federal efforts to deport illegal migrants," Greenberg said. "Republicans and independents also overwhelmingly oppose New York paying for health care through Medicaid for undocumented immigrants. Democrats are evenly divided. It is strongly opposed by white voters and is also opposed by a plurality of Black and Latino voters."

The Siena poll comes as the Trump administration continues its efforts to crack down on immigration. Since Inauguration Day, the Trump camp has publicized the arrest of more than 8,000 immigrants by federal agents, as well as ending several Biden-era programs that sought to protect vulnerable migrants.

That coincides with his favorability rating in New York, his home state, being as high as ever, despite remaining in the negatives. The poll shows that Republicans view the president favorably, 83-13%, while Democrats view him unfavorably, 17-81% and independents 48-46%.

"President Trump has not been popular in his former home state for more than a decade. And while that is still true, Trump now has his best favorability rating, 41-56%, since the month before he took office for the first time, December 2016, when his favorability rating was 41-53%," Greenberg said.

"Will Trump usher in what he calls a new golden age of America? Overall, voters say it's likely by a very narrow 48-46% margin," he continued. "While 84% of Republicans and 56% of independents say it's very or somewhat likely that he will, 69% of Democrats disagree, saying it's not very or not at all likely."