Protesters march through downtown Chicago on June 12, during the second day of demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and President Trump’s immigration policies. Carrying signs reading ‘Abolish ICE’ and ‘No More Deportations,’ thousands rally in solidarity with immigrant communities, chanting for justice and an end to family separations.
Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images
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Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images
Political messaging on immigration goes well beyond whether to deport people without legal status.
There’s a big difference, for example, in advocating for stronger border security and booting hardened criminals from the country, versus deporting cooks and construction workers — and sending National Guards and even Marines in response to protests (when local officials didn’t ask for it).
Trump’s deportation policies have moved toward workplaces, as Immigrations and Customs Enforcement tries to reach the White House’s goal of 3,000 deportations a day. But that presents a potential political problem for Trump.
The aggressive approach to deportations is giving Democrats a unifying message in opposition to Trump. But the party still faces long-term problems when it comes to setting out a vision for immigration policy that would give Americans confidence in turning the reins over to them instead of Republicans.
What does public opinion polling say?
Polling on specific aspects of immigration policy is sparse and somewhat conflicting.
In general, people support President Trump’s immigration plans more than his economic ones. And multiple polls have clearly shown in the past year that people trust Republicans more than Democrats to handle immigration.
But surveys out this week showed differing results, especially in light of Trump’s response to the protests:
—A CBS poll, conducted before the protests in Los Angeles, found 54% approve of his deportation policies.
—A Quinnipiac survey, on the other hand, conducted around the time of the L.A. protests in opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids on workplaces, from June 5-9, showed 56% disapprove of the president’s handling of deportations.
—Reuters/Ipsos found that 50% of people disapproved of Trump’s response to the protests so far, while 35% approved. Forty-eight percent thought Trump should deploy the military to bring order to violent protests, 41% did not. According to a survey by AP/NORC, 49% of respondents believe that Trump has gone too far with arrests of immigrants, compared to 40% who disagree. This sentiment is in contrast to the 46% approval rating Trump received for his handling of immigration, which was higher than his overall approval rating in the survey.
During his first term, Trump faced higher levels of disapproval for his immigration policies, particularly the controversial family separation policy. However, immigration played a significant role in Trump’s favor during the 2024 presidential election due to shifting attitudes towards immigration in the country.
Republican members of Congress in competitive districts, such as Rep. David Valadao and Rep. Tony Gonzales, have expressed concerns about the Trump administration’s deportation efforts. They believe that the focus should be on removing known criminals rather than hardworking individuals who have lived peacefully in the country for years.
Despite pushback from some GOP members, key White House officials like Stephen Miller continue to advocate for hard-line immigration policies. The administration’s stance on immigration, as well as other culture war issues, remains a point of contention both within the party and with the public.
Trump himself has acknowledged the impact of his immigration policies on industries like farming and hospitality, stating that aggressive immigration policies have led to the loss of valuable workers. This acknowledgment comes after increased workplace raids and criticism from Hispanic GOP members.
Overall, the debate over immigration policy remains a contentious issue within the Republican Party and the broader political landscape. It is not feasible to simply remove farmers and their workers and send them back, especially when they may not have access to what they need. This sentiment was echoed by Valadao, who praised President Trump for recognizing the importance of farmworkers in the agriculture industry.
While there has been a shift in tone regarding deportations, there have not been any concrete changes in ICE’s approach. The political landscape surrounding immigration is complex, with a balance between reducing immigration and treating immigrants humanely.
Democrats are also facing challenges in formulating a cohesive immigration message, especially in response to Trump’s policies. Some Democrats, like Joel Payne, emphasize the importance of having a clear border management policy while upholding the nation’s values as a nation of immigrants and laws.
Saikat Chakrabarti, a former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, believes that Democrats need to take a stronger stance on immigration issues. He highlights the importance of maintaining humane treatment for immigrants, regardless of political affiliation.
Despite efforts by some Democrats, there is still a lack of a unified vision on how to address immigration. Ramzi Kassem, who has worked on immigration policy, points out the need for Democrats to develop a compelling narrative surrounding immigration, as the Republican opposition has a clear and negative message on the issue.
In conclusion, the issue of immigration remains complex, with both parties navigating challenges in formulating effective policies and communication strategies. text without changing its meaning:
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