A recent Gallup survey has revealed a significant shift in public opinion on immigration in the United States(US), with a record high of 79% of respondents viewing immigration as a “good thing” for the country. This marks a 15-point increase from last year and a notable change in attitude, especially among Republicans, who have become more content with immigration levels since President Donald Trump took office.
The survey, conducted in June with 1,402 US adults, found that support for mass deportations has decreased, with only 38% of respondents backing the idea of deporting all undocumented immigrants back to their home countries, down from 47% last year. Additionally, support for expanding the US-Mexico border wall has dropped to 45%, an eight-point decrease.
Gallup’s findings suggest that Americans have grown more positive toward immigration over the past year, with the share wanting immigration reduced dropping from 55% in 2024 to 30% today. According to David Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, the survey results are an “absolute bloodbath” for Trump, with “support for cuts to immigration plummeting 25 points since last year.”
The Trump administration’s immigration policies have been marked by controversy, including the gutting of the refugee resettlement program, rounding up undocumented migrants, and sending suspected gang members to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador without due process. The administration has also ended protected status for nationals of several countries, including Venezuela and Haiti, and has been pushing to remove foreign students critical of Israel from the US.
Despite these efforts, the US public appears to be souring on the anti-immigration campaign, with 62% of respondents disapproving of Trump’s handling of immigration, while 36% approve. The survey also found that most Americans favor allowing immigrants living in the US illegally the chance to become US citizens if they meet certain requirements over a period of time.
In fact, 85% of respondents favor a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who were brought to the US illegally as children, and nearly as many say they favor a path to citizenship for all immigrants in the country illegally as long as they meet certain requirements.
The shift in public opinion on immigration is driven primarily by a change in attitude among Republicans and independents. About two-thirds of Republicans now say immigrants are “a good thing” for the country, up from 39% last year. Independents have also moved in a more positive direction, with 80% now viewing immigration as a good thing, up from about two-thirds last year.
As Trump pushes for sweeping deportations in his second term, the new Gallup data suggests that US adults are returning to more pro-immigrant views, which could complicate his plans. The poll highlights a significant decrease in support for hard-line border enforcement measures, while more Americans favor offering pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already in the US.