A new national survey shows that a majority of Americans support President Donald Trump’s broader deportation agenda, even as many express concerns about how the policy is being carried out.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll, released Thursday, found that 61 percent of U.S. adults support deporting immigrants who are living in the country illegally. The numbers reflect strong backing among Republicans, with 92 percent saying they support Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Among Democrats, 35 percent indicated support for deportations.
At the same time, the poll suggests that Americans are more divided over the methods used to enforce the policy. Just under 40 percent of respondents said they support the administration’s tactics, while 58 percent said they do not.
The partisan divide is stark. Sixty-three percent of Democrats said they do not support deporting migrants, compared to just 7 percent of Republicans who opposed the effort.
The survey results come as the Trump administration faces criticism over recent immigration enforcement operations. Federal agents fatally shot U.S. citizens Alexi Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis last month, drawing attention to the use of force during operations tied to immigration enforcement.
The debate over enforcement has unfolded alongside a funding standoff in Washington. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapsed on Feb. 14 after Democrats held firm on demands for changes within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. DHS includes ICE as well as agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
According to the Reuters/Ipsos poll, roughly 60 percent of U.S. adults believe ICE has “gone too far” in its operations. Among Democrats, 63 percent said they believe the agency should be abolished, while 30 percent disagreed.
Senate Democrats earlier this week blocked another bill aimed at reopening DHS. Among their demands are requirements to unmask federal agents and to tighten warrant rules during enforcement raids.
A separate survey from NBC News Decision Desk earlier this month found that 72 percent of Americans support either reforming ICE or shutting the agency down altogether.
Still, the Reuters/Ipsos data indicate that while enforcement tactics remain controversial, the core principle of deporting individuals who are in the country illegally commands majority support nationwide. The numbers suggest that many Americans differentiate between backing immigration enforcement in general and endorsing specific methods used to implement it.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted from Feb. 18 to Feb. 23 and surveyed 4,368 people. It carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
As immigration continues to dominate the national conversation, the survey underscores a complex political landscape: broad support for enforcing immigration laws, coupled with ongoing debate about how those laws should be carried out.
