- A new Washington Post/CNN poll shows 56% of Americans now support deporting all 11 million illegal aliens — a significant increase from 38% in 2016. The shift reflects growing alignment with President Trump’s hardline immigration stance, emphasizing national security and economic concerns.
- Support crosses party lines: 86% of Republicans, 58% of independents and even 25% of Democrats favor mass deportation. Polling expert Harry Enten links the trend to Trump’s policies, noting 49% of voters now view his immigration efforts as successful.
- Trump’s policies (workplace raids, asylum restrictions, “zero tolerance”) reframed illegal immigration as a security/economic threat. 62% of voters now call it a “major problem,” fueled by record border apprehensions in the Biden era.
(Natural News)—A new poll reveals a growing majority of Americans now support mass deportations of illegal immigrants, signaling a significant shift in public opinion since 2016. According to a Washington Post survey analyzed by CNN, 56% of voters back government efforts to deport all 11 million undocumented residents, compared to just 38% in 2016. The findings underscore a public embrace of stricter immigration policies championed by President Donald Trump, who has framed enforcement as critical to national security and economic integrity. The poll’s results highlight a historic swing in voter sentiment, coinciding with the Trump administration’s hardline stance.
Poll shows bipartisan support for stronger enforcement
The Washington Post/CNN analysis, interpreted by polling expert Harry Enten, reveals a stark shift over the past decade in how Americans view immigration enforcement. Enten noted that the 18-percentage-point jump in support for deportation reflects bipartisan agreement on the issue. Notably, 86% of Republicans and 58% of political independents now back mass deportations, with even 25% of Democrats acknowledging concerns about illegal immigration’s societal impact.
Enten attributed this change directly to Trump’s policies, emphasizing: “The American people have come a long way on this issue, much closer to Donald Trump, and I think that’s a big part of why Americans are increasingly saying the country is on the right track when comes to immigration policy.”
The poll further indicates that 49% of voters now view Trump’s immigration efforts as successful, reinforcing his administration’s focus on border security and workplace enforcement since his initial 2016 presidential campaign.
Historical context: The evolution of enforcement policy
President Trump’s immigration agenda has reshaped the national debate on enforcement since his first term. His administration’s policies, including expanded workplace raids, stricter asylum rules and the “zero tolerance” border policy, have framed illegal immigration as both a security threat and an economic burden on American workers.
Historically, immigration enforcement under George W. Bush and Barack Obama focused on criminal deportations and a limited scale system overhaul. Trump’s actions, however, broadened the scope to target all undocumented residents, aligning enforcement with his “America First” platform.
The poll’s results validate Trump’s approach, as 62% of voters now describe illegal immigration as a “major problem.” This follows record border apprehensions the last four years, exacerbating fears about job competition and public safety, particularly in rural and border communities.
A mandate for action
The polling suggests the Trump administration has successfully mobilized public opinion behind its immigration agenda amid a contentious political climate. While Democrats argue for balancing enforcement with paths to legal residency, the sum majority of voters increasingly side with mass deportation.
President Trump’s promises and policies, consolidated over two terms, appear to have created a durable coalition pushing for border security over amnesty — a shift that could redefine the immigration debate for decades.
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