Trump's immigration measures divide Americans, according to Pew
Americans are divided on deportations and oppose workplace raids, according to a new Pew Research Center survey
The poll was conducted amid ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Southern California, sparking nationwide protests, and as President Trump reversed course on suspending some immigration enforcement measures.
A survey of more than 5,000 U.S. adults released Tuesday found the public is nearly evenly split on the use of state and local law enforcement in deportation proceedings: 50% approve and 49% oppose.
Respondents are also evenly split on offering money and funding for undocumented immigrants in the U.S. if they leave the country voluntarily (49% approve, 50% disapprove).
And they are evenly split on sending more federal personnel for deportation efforts (49% approve, 50% disapprove).
However, 54% disapprove of increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on workplaces where undocumented people in the U.S. might be working, while 45% approve.
60% of Americans oppose suspending most asylum applications, while 39% support the measure.
And 59% of respondents oppose ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants who fled war or other disasters, while 39% support the policy change.
The Trump administration's overall approach to immigration is perceived more negatively, with 42% approving and 47% disapproving.
These assessments, and opinions on specific policies, largely split along partisan lines:Republicans broadly support Trump’s immigration policies, while Democrats oppose them.
Support for Legalizing Immigrant Status
A large majority of Americans (65%) say there should be a way for undocumented immigrants to remain in the country legally, and 36% think these immigrants should be eligible for citizenship if they meet specific requirements.
The Pew Research Center says this support has been consistent in past surveys.
Sudden Changes in Immigration Policy May Not Be Reflected in Poll Results
Trump stunned immigration hardliners last week when his administration announced it was suspending some raids that were hurting the agriculture and hospitality industries.
Then, just as quickly, things changed. Trump announced on Sunday that a new wave of raids would target immigrants in Democratic-run cities.
On Monday, there were indications that farms, hotels, and restaurants would be raided again, and on Tuesday this was confirmed.
The poll was conducted toward the end of the administration’s escalation of immigration actions last week, but there were already signs that the public was beginning to withdraw support for Trump’s promised raids after images of families being separated and news of people being mistakenly deported.
Most of the poll was conducted before recent high-profile protests in Los Angeles and other cities against ICE workplace raids and the Trump administration’s deployment of Marines and National Guard troops to Los Angeles.
Trump’s approval rating (41%) has remained virtually unchanged in recent months but is still lower than it was in the first weeks of his term.
And The percentage of those who now think Trump's actions as president have been worse than expected is 13 percentage points higher than in February (35% then, 48% now), while the percentage who think his actions have been better than expected has decreased (28% then, 21% now).

