Americans’ views on immigration have dramatically shifted, poll shows

A record 79% of Americans now consider immigration beneficial to the country, reversing from 2024 when 55% wanted immigration reduced, according to a new Gallup poll.

The survey, which polled 1,402 adults from June 2-26, saw those wanting less immigration down to 30%. The change crossed all political parties but was most pronounced among Republicans, whose support for cutting immigration fell 40 percentage points to 48%. Meanwhile, support for allowing undocumented immigrants to earn citizenship rose to 78%, up from 70% last year, with Republicans posting the largest increase at 13 percentage points.

On enforcement, Americans showed less appetite for harsh measures. Support for deporting all undocumented immigrants declined from 47% to 38%, returning to 2019 levels after reaching unusually high support during President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. The poll also found widespread disapproval of the president’s immigration approach, with 62% rating him negatively versus 35% positively, including especially low approval among Hispanic Americans at 21%.

Asian Americans present a complex picture within this broader shift. Earlier this year, an AAPI Data/AP-NORC survey showed immigration had risen as a priority concern for the community, with 42% naming it among their top five federal priorities, up from 29% in 2024. At the time, their views on deportation were deeply divided: about 38% supported deporting all immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, while a similar share opposed the measure.

By April, a separate AAPI Data/AP-NORC poll found strong opposition to key Trump immigration policies, including eliminating birthright citizenship for children born to parents on temporary visas (56% oppose) or those in the country illegally (50% oppose). While 43% supported deporting all immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, a much larger portion (83%) backed deportations specifically for those convicted of violent crimes, showing the community’s preference for targeted enforcement over broad deportation policies.

The data suggests Trump’s hardline immigration enforcement may be politically counterproductive. Despite border crossings hitting historic lows, Trump has grown more unpopular on immigration, with ICE’s aggressive tactics driving much disapproval. For Asian Americans — the nation’s fastest-growing racial group — this gap between the president’s approach and community views could carry significant political weight heading into the 2026 midterms.

Despite the apparent uproar, the Trump administration remains committed to immigration as a core political strategy. “Now that President Trump has reversed Biden’s disastrous immigration policies and stopped the flood of criminal illegal aliens pouring into the country, Americans have a lot less to be worried about,” said White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson, citing other polls that purportedly suggest more support for the administration’s actions.