Americans’ Support for Immigration Hits Record High Amid Trump Crackdown

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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In a dramatic shift in public opinion, Americans’ support for immigration has surged to a record high, even as President Donald Trump intensifies his administration’s crackdown on undocumented migrants.

According to a new Gallup poll released on July 11, 79% of Americans now view immigration as a positive force for the country marking the highest level of support since Gallup began tracking the issue. The number of respondents who believe immigration levels should decrease has fallen sharply to 30%, down from a five year high of 55% in 2024.

The poll surveyed 1,402 Americans between June 2 and June 26, capturing a period marked by aggressive immigration enforcement tactics and controversial policy announcements by the Trump administration.

In June, federal agents often masked and carried out high-profile immigration raids at restaurants, farms, and hardware stores across the nation. The sweeping operations sparked widespread protests and legal challenges. One of the most polarizing moves was the unveiling of a new migrant detention facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” located in the Florida Everglades. The facility, surrounded by swamp waters and guarded by wildlife barriers, has drawn fierce criticism from human rights organizations.

Despite the administration’s hardline stance, attitudes among Republican voters have also shifted. The Gallup poll shows that 64% of Republicans now view immigration positively a stunning 25-point increase from June 2024. Meanwhile, the percentage of Republicans who believe immigration should be reduced has dropped from 88% to 48% in the same period.

Political analysts suggest the change may reflect growing recognition of immigrants’ economic contributions and a backlash to the perceived extremity of recent enforcement measures.

Earlier this year, the administration faced a wave of criticism after deporting hundreds of men to a notorious prison in El Salvador, despite many of them being Venezuelan nationals. One high-profile case involved Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador before a federal judge intervened to mandate his return to the U.S.

President Trump’s immigration policies remain polarizing. While 35% of Americans disapprove of his handling of the issue, according to the poll, his core base remains largely supportive. However, the broader public's increasingly positive stance on immigration may pose challenges for the administration as it continues to escalate its enforcement agenda.

Gallup’s findings suggest that the national conversation around immigration is shifting and not in the direction the Trump administration may have anticipated.