U.S. — Views on specific enforcement actions show broad skepticism among the general public. Approximately 50% of U.S. adults say Donald Trump has gone too far on deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. Additionally, 47% of U.S. adults say Donald Trump has exceeded his authority when it comes to deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.

Most Americans say Donald Trump has gone too far when it comes to using traffic stops to find and arrest immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. Most Americans also say Donald Trump has gone too far when it comes to sending federal immigration agents into U.S. cities.

Assessments of Immigration and Customs Enforcement reflect similar partisan splits. About half of Americans disapprove of the way Immigration and Customs Enforcement is enforcing immigration laws, while roughly 30% of Americans approve of the way Immigration and Customs Enforcement is enforcing immigration laws. About 20% of independents approve of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's approach to enforcing immigration laws, and 4% of Democrats approve of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's approach to enforcing immigration laws.

Economic perceptions also weigh heavily on public opinion. About 70% of U.S. adults describe the nation's economy as very or somewhat poor. Partisan views on economic conditions vary, with about 60% of Republicans saying the U.S. economy is doing well.

About 20% of independents say the U.S. economy is doing well, and roughly 10% of Democrats say the U.S. economy is doing well. For context, Donald Trump's lowest approval rating on the economy during his first term was 40% in December 2017.

James Leatherman, a 68-year-old Republican from San Antonio, expressed support for strict adherence to immigration laws. "You cannot come in here illegally — you’re breaking the law," Leatherman said. However, he also noted the financial strain affecting many households. "I almost have to go to the bank to get a loan before I go grocery shopping," he said.

Eric Coursen, a 76-year-old independent from Chincoteague, Virginia, criticized the severity of certain enforcement measures. "It’s like taking some bread when you’re hungry and you take it, you’re going to shoot that person rather than just, you know, get them for theft?" Coursen said. He described the current approach as excessive. "It’s just overkill," he said.

The poll also measured approval of the president's handling of healthcare. About 30% of Americans approve of how Donald Trump is handling healthcare. Among party lines, 71% of Republicans approve of how Donald Trump is handling healthcare. This represents an increase from the 59% of Republicans who approved of how Donald Trump was handling healthcare in the December poll.

Approval of Trump's foreign policy stands at 41%, with 70% of Republicans expressing approval. On border security, 44% of U.S. adults approve of the president's approach, while 52% disapprove. Among Republicans, 78% approve of the administration's border security policies.

When asked about asylum processing, 56% of respondents said the current system is not working well, with 31% saying it is working somewhat well and 25% saying it is not working at all. A majority, 54%, support allowing undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to remain legally.

Support for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants remains at 51%, unchanged from early 2024. Among independents, 58% support such a pathway. The poll was conducted by telephone across all 50 states, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Data collection occurred between March 1 and March 15, 2025, with 1,024 adults surveyed.

Why It Matters

Public support for the president's immigration approach has eroded since the start of his second term, with approval dropping from 49% to 39%. This shift coincides with a majority of adults viewing specific enforcement tactics, such as traffic stops and city raids, as excessive or beyond presidential authority. While Republican backing remains high, the widening gap between party lines and the broader public sentiment signals potential political challenges as economic dissatisfaction also grows.