WASHINGTON — Just months after President Donald Trump returned to office amid a wave of anti-immigration sentiment, the share of U.S. adults saying immigration is a ''good thing'' for the country has jumped substantially — including among Republicans, according to new Gallup polling.
About 8 in 10 Americans, 79%, say immigration is ''a good thing'' for the country today, an increase from 64% a year ago and a high point in the nearly 25-year trend. Only about 2 in 10 U.S. adults say immigration is a bad thing right now, down from 32% last year.
During Democratic President Joe Biden's term in office, negative views of immigration had increased markedly, reaching a high point in the months before Trump, a Republican, took office. The new Gallup data suggests U.S. adults are returning to more pro-immigrant views that could complicate Trump's push for sweeping deportations and other anti-immigration policies. The poll shows decreasing support for the type of mass deportations Trump has championed since before he was elected.
Since taking office, Trump has called on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to do all in its power to deliver ''the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.'' His administration has also pushed to limit access to federal benefits for immigrants who lack legal status, sought to revoke the citizenship of immigrants who commit crimes and is working to end birthright citizenship for children born to those without legal status or who are in the country temporarily.
In general, Americans' views of immigration policies have shifted dramatically in the last year, the Gallup polling shows — including among Republicans, who have become much more content with immigration levels since Trump took office but who have also grown more supportive of pathways to citizenship for people in the country illegally.
The broader trend also shows that public opinion is generally much more favorable to immigrants than it was decades ago.
The vast majority of U.S. adults say immigration is good
Americans' more positive view on immigration is driven primarily by a shift among Republicans and independents.