President Donald Trump’s approval ratings on immigration have taken a sharp turn downward, according to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll. The findings come as the administration faces mounting criticism over its hard-line and sometimes legally dubious enforcement tactics.
The poll found that more Americans support bringing back undocumented immigrants like Kilmar Abrego García, who was wrongly deported, than those who think he should remain in El Salvador. While a narrow majority of Republicans support deporting alleged gang members without a court hearing, Democrats overwhelmingly oppose such practices.
Trump’s actions on immigration have been a source of frustration for many Americans, with 51% opposing the administration’s efforts to send undocumented migrants suspected of being members of a criminal group to El Salvador. The poll also shows that public approval for Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts has dropped significantly, particularly among Democrats and independents.
The results buttress concerns about the administration’s handling of sensitive issues like deportation and its treatment of international students and faculty at U.S. colleges and universities. As one moderate Democrat, Ray King, put it, “Not following due process laws is not a way to fix the problem.” The poll suggests that Trump’s approach may be alienating some Americans who were initially supportive of his hard-line stance on immigration.
The findings come as the administration faces scrutiny over its treatment of migrants and international students. A federal judge in Maryland recently ordered the Trump administration to secure the return of a Venezuelan man who was deported despite being part of a class-action settlement that should have protected him from removal.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/04/25/trump-immigration-approval-ratings-drop-poll