U.S. Immigration Support Grows Sharply Under Trump Return

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U.S. Immigration Support Grows Sharply Under Trump Return \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A new Gallup poll shows a dramatic rise in positive views of immigration, even among Republicans, despite President Trump’s push for mass deportations. Nearly 80% of Americans now say immigration is good for the country, the highest since 2001. Support for pathways to citizenship is also surging, complicating Trump’s restrictive agenda.

Quick Looks

79% of U.S. adults say immigration is good for the country
Republican support for immigration rose from 39% to 65%
Overall negative views on immigration dropped from 32% to 20%
Trump’s anti-immigration policies face growing public opposition
85% support citizenship path for immigrants brought as children
Only 30% of Americans want immigration decreased, down from 55%
6 in 10 Republicans now support a path to citizenship
Deportation support drops to 4 in 10, down from half in 2023

Deep Look

Just months into President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, a sweeping new Gallup poll has revealed a surprising and significant shift in American attitudes toward immigration — one that may challenge the president’s strict enforcement agenda.

According to the July 2025 poll, nearly 80% of U.S. adults now believe immigration is “a good thing” for the country, up from 64% just one year ago. This marks the highest level of pro-immigration sentiment since Gallup began tracking the trend nearly 25 years ago.

Even more surprising is where much of that optimism is coming from: Republicans. In 2024, only 39% of Republicans said immigration was good for the country. In 2025, that number has surged to 65%, reflecting a significant ideological shift within Trump’s own base.

Independents also showed a sharp increase, jumping from about two-thirds support in 2024 to 80% in the most recent poll. Democrats have consistently supported immigration, with their numbers remaining overwhelmingly high over the past several years.

“This is a dramatic reversal,” said Gallup’s senior analyst. “We haven’t seen such a shift in immigration opinion among Republicans in two decades.”

Public Sentiment Shifts as Trump Pushes Mass Deportations

Despite Trump’s aggressive immigration policies, including efforts to restrict federal benefits, end birthright citizenship, and push what he’s called the “largest Mass Deportation Program in History,” the public appears to be moving in a more inclusive direction.

Trump’s administration has directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ramp up arrests and deportations while also targeting immigrants convicted of crimes for denaturalization and removal.

However, the Gallup poll shows waning public support for those measures. The share of U.S. adults who say immigration should be decreased dropped from 55% in 2024 to 30% in 2025. A growing number — about 40% — now say immigration levels should remain the same, and 26% say they should be increased.

Even within the Republican Party, support for reducing immigration has fallen dramatically: from a high of 88% last year to just 48% now. Notably, 4 in 10 Republicans now say immigration levels should remain where they are.

This erosion of support for mass deportations suggests that Trump’s hardline rhetoric may be out of step with public opinion, even within his own party.

Rising Support for Pathways to Citizenship

Perhaps the most telling shift is the surge in support for pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, especially those brought to the U.S. as children.

The Gallup poll found that 85% of Americans — nearly 9 in 10 — support offering a pathway to citizenship for “Dreamers” who meet certain requirements. Nearly as many favor broader legalization for other undocumented immigrants living in the country, provided they meet criteria such as paying taxes and passing background checks.

Republican support for these paths has grown as well. In 2024, just 46% of Republicans favored a path to citizenship. In 2025, that number has risen to 60%. Support remains strong among Democrats and independents, who have historically backed immigration reform.

These findings come as congressional Democrats continue to push for comprehensive immigration reform and Trump’s administration works to scale back legal immigration channels.

Deportation Support Declining

The poll also shows a modest decline in support for the deportation of undocumented immigrants. Only about 4 in 10 Americans now support deporting immigrants who are in the country illegally, down from half in 2024. The decline is seen across party lines, though Republicans remain more supportive of deportation than Democrats or independents.

Still, the momentum is clearly shifting, particularly as economic and humanitarian arguments for immigration gain wider public acceptance.

Political Impact and 2026 Outlook

The evolving views on immigration could have profound implications for the 2026 midterms and beyond. While Trump’s anti-immigration platform played a central role in his re-election, the Gallup poll suggests Americans are increasingly embracing more inclusive immigration policies, including among constituencies that once favored stricter controls.

Experts say these trends may force a policy recalibration, especially among Republicans hoping to maintain their electoral gains.

“The data paints a clear picture,” said immigration policy analyst Carla Ramos. “Trump’s agenda is not aligned with the views of most Americans — including many of his own voters.”

As Trump’s administration advances its enforcement agenda, growing public support for immigration, especially legal pathways, may constrain how far it can go politically. Whether this shift influences legislative action or Trump’s second-term legacy remains to be seen.