Record high support for immigration among Americans

In a significant shift regarding immigration perceptions in the United States, a Gallup poll has revealed that 79% of U.S. adults now consider immigration to be beneficial for the country. This marks a marked increase from 64% a year prior and stands at an all-time high in Gallup's nearly 25-year trend of polling on this issue. The notable change in public sentiment occurs in the context of Donald Trump's return to office, where he has expressed intentions for mass deportations. Surprisingly, many Republicans, who traditionally favored stringent immigration controls, have also begun to view immigration more positively, with two-thirds now saying it's a good thing. This is a considerable rise from 39% last year. In the broader landscape, independents have shown similar positivity, with 80% now viewing immigration favorably as compared to two-thirds from the previous year. Democrats have consistently maintained a positive view of immigration, which has surged to 91% in recent polls. Alongside positive perceptions, there is also a marked decline in the number of Americans who want immigration decreased. Among Republicans, the desire to limit immigration has dropped to 48%, down from 88% the previous year. In comparison, nearly 40% of Republicans prefer to keep immigration levels the same rather than decrease them, with only 10% advocating for an increase. This change in viewpoint might be attributed to the perceived benefits of immigration that many Americans, including Republicans, now recognize, despite the ongoing stringent immigration policies promoted by the Trump administration. Additionally, there is growing support among Americans for pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. The proportion of individuals in favor of providing citizenship pathways for those who entered the U.S. illegally as children has reached an impressive 85%. This desire for pathways to legal status for undocumented immigrants has also seen a rise among Republicans, where support has grown to 60% from 46%. This trend highlights a shift in perspective, as support for deportations has decreased from about half of Americans to 40% in the last year. The Gallup data suggests these changes are a reaction to the perceived failures of immigration enforcement during previous administrations. Public opinion appears to be reversing from prior years when negative views of immigration were on the rise. The Gallup poll indicates that while Americans’ views on immigration policies are evolving, the majority still disapprove of how Trump has managed immigration during his time in office, with a stark partisan divide. Notably, 62% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s immigration policies, while only 35% approve. This suggests that although public sentiment on immigration is shifting positively, many people are unhappy with the current administration’s approach to handling the issue.