Despite a barrage of hostile media coverage and relentless attacks from the left, President Donald Trump's standing with voters remains remarkably steady — especially on the issue of border security.
Our latest national survey shows Trump's job approval is unchanged from last month: 50% approve, including 36% who approve of both his persona and his policies, and another 14% who approve of his policies. Forty-seven percent disapprove. [Poll: 1,000 likely voters, plus or minus 3.1%, 95% confidence interval, conducted January 21–27]
The reason Trump's approval remains firm is simple: His base is rock solid.
Among Trump 2024 voters, his approval stands at 89% to 9%. Among Republicans, it is 88% to 11%.
Among conservatives, 85% approve and just 14% disapprove.
That kind of loyalty is rare in modern American politics — and it is driven largely by Trump's unwavering stance on immigration enforcement.
During a stretch of frigid, snowy weather, the biggest national political story became ICE operations in Minneapolis.
Watching the legacy left-wing media's slanted coverage of these enforcement actions made one thing clear: The press is actively trying to help anti-Trump Democrats weaken the federal government's ability to enforce immigration law.
If federal immigration enforcement is neutered, the result is de facto open borders.
Millions of illegal immigrants will continue to pour into the United States — whether they are criminals, terrorists, or individuals who will drain billions of dollars in public assistance from American taxpayers.
Our polling explains exactly why the left is losing this argument.
When voters were asked whether they favor or oppose "deporting known criminal and terrorist migrants who have entered the country illegally," an overwhelming 87% support deportation, including 67% who strongly support it. Only 10% opposed.
Interestingly, Hispanic voters supported deportation by a strong 79% to 19% margin. These numbers are virtually unchanged from December, when support stood at 86% to 8%.
Despite nonstop messaging from the open-borders media, Democrats, and left-wing nonprofits, the American people have not budged: foreign criminals must go.
Support remains strong even when the question expands beyond criminals.
Asked whether they favor or oppose "deporting migrants who have entered the country illegally," 62% of voters support deportation, including 39% who strongly support it. Thirty-two percent oppose.
Hispanic voters are divided — 46% support deportation, while 49% oppose. Again, these numbers show only modest movement from December (66% support, 27% oppose).
In short, the left has failed to change public opinion on the goal: Americans want illegal immigration stopped.
Where the left has made progress is not on the ends, but on the means — specifically, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
ICE is the federal law enforcement agency tasked with arresting and deporting illegal immigrants.
Without ICE, the United States reverts to the Biden-Harris open borders policy that allowed millions of illegal immigrants to enter the country unchecked.
ICE's image has taken a hit. Its favorable rating now stands at 42%, with 50% unfavorable. Among Hispanic voters, ICE is viewed unfavorably by a 58% to 31% margin.
That polarization is reflected in attitudes toward abolishing the agency altogether.
When voters were asked whether they favor or oppose defunding and abolishing ICE, the electorate was split: 46% support, 48% oppose.
Republicans oppose abolition by a decisive 66% to 31%. Democrats favor it 65% to 30%. Independents lean against it, 47% to 41%. Hispanic voters support defunding ICE 56% to 40%.
Ironically, voters are less divided when it comes to punishing sanctuary cities.
Nearly half of voters (48%) support cutting off federal funding to sanctuary cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis that refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement in deporting criminal illegal aliens. Forty-two percent oppose.
Trump 2024 voters support defunding sanctuary cities by a commanding 75% to 17%. Harris 2024 voters oppose it 70% to 20%. Hispanic voters are evenly split.
Voters are also rejecting radical state-level defiance of federal immigration law.
A majority (51%) oppose Minnesota Democrat Gov. Tim Walz's effort to turn his state into an open-borders sanctuary that shields criminal illegal immigrants from deportation. Only 36% support Walz's position.
Perhaps most striking, voters strongly back decisive action against the international drug trade.
A solid 58% approve of President Trump using the U.S. military to stop the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl from Venezuela, including capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was indicted in 2020 for drug trafficking.
Only 36% oppose. Majorities of Hispanics (52%), independents (54%), and moderates (53%) all support Trump's approach.
The conclusion is clear.
Deporting criminal illegal immigrants remains overwhelmingly popular. Deporting illegal immigrants more broadly is also supported by a majority of Americans. What has become polarized is the mechanism — ICE — and the enforcement tools required to get the job done.
Republicans must refocus the debate on outcomes and expose Democratic opposition to ICE for what it truly is: a strategy to reopen the borders and invite millions more illegal immigrants into the country. President Trump understands this—and voters are standing firmly with him.
John McLaughlin has worked professionally as a strategic consultant and pollster for over 40 years. Jim McLaughlin is a nationally recognized public opinion expert, strategic consultant and political strategist who has helped to elect a U.S. president, prime ministers, a Senate majority leader, and a speaker of the House. Read John and Jim McLaughlin's Reports — More Here.
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