US President Donald Trump's immigration continues to be his strongest political issue compared with the economy, healthcare and Iran, according to a new AP-NORC poll.
The survey found that while Americans have grown more critical of Trump's immigration policies since the start of his second term, Republican support has remained overwhelmingly strong, helping immigration remain one of his biggest political assets heading into the November midterm elections.
Here's what the latest polling shows.
According to the AP-NORC poll, 39% of US adults approve of Trump's handling of immigration, down from 49% at the beginning of his second term.
Despite the decline, immigration still performs better for Trump than other major issues:
-Immigration: 39% approval
-Economy: 32% approval
-Healthcare: About 30% approval
Within the Republican Party, support remains much stronger.
About 8 in 10 Republicans approve of Trump's immigration policies, only slightly lower than the roughly 9 in 10 who approved at the beginning of his second term.
The poll also found Republican voters rate Trump's handling of immigration more favorably than his management of the economy or the conflict involving Iran.
Although immigration remains Trump's strongest issue, many Americans believe his enforcement measures have become excessive.
The survey found:
-About half of Americans say Trump has gone too far in deporting immigrants living in the US illegally.
-Around 47% believe he has exceeded his authority on deportations.
-Roughly half also say he has gone too far in restricting legal immigration.
Public concern is even stronger over certain enforcement tactics.
Most Americans oppose:
-Using traffic stops to identify and arrest undocumented immigrants.
-Sending large numbers of federal immigration agents into US cities.
Republicans, however, are far less likely to view these actions as excessive.
The poll also examined public attitudes toward US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
About half of Americans said they disapprove of how ICE is enforcing immigration laws, while only about three in 10 approve.
The partisan divide is stark:
-About 60% of Republicans approve of ICE's enforcement.
-Around 20% of independents approve.
-Only 4% of Democrats express approval.
The findings come after several high-profile encounters involving ICE officers in July, including incidents in which three people were killed during encounters with immigration authorities.
The poll suggests concerns over border security and illegal immigration continue to outweigh controversy surrounding enforcement methods among Republican voters.
While immigration remains relatively resilient, Trump's economic ratings have deteriorated significantly.
Only 32% of Americans approve of his handling of the economy, compared with 40% at the beginning of his second term.
Among Republicans:
-69% approve of Trump's economic performance.
-That is down from 78% earlier in his presidency.
About seven in 10 Americans also describe the US economy as either "somewhat poor" or "very poor."
Even supporters acknowledge persistent inflation and rising living costs.
Healthcare remains Trump's weakest major policy area.
Only about 30% of Americans approve of his handling of healthcare.
Republican support has improved—from 59% in December to 71% in the latest poll—but Democrats and independents continue to overwhelmingly disapprove.
Healthcare is expected to become a major Democratic campaign issue alongside the cost of living and the conflict involving Iran ahead of the midterm elections.
The findings suggest that immigration remains Trump's most durable political advantage even as his overall popularity declines.
Although many Americans disapprove of specific immigration enforcement tactics, Republican voters continue to strongly back the president's hardline approach, making immigration one of the few issues where he retains broad support within his political base.
With fewer than 100 days before the midterm elections, the poll indicates immigration is likely to remain a central pillar of Trump's campaign strategy, even as concerns over the economy, healthcare and foreign policy present growing political challenges.
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Facts Only
39% of US adults approve of Trump's handling of immigration, down from 49% at the start of his second term.
Approval rates compared: Immigration (39%), Economy (32%), Healthcare (about 30%).
Among Republicans, about 8 in 10 approve of Trump's immigration policies.
Republican voters rate Trump's immigration handling more favorably than his management of the economy or the conflict involving Iran.
About half of Americans say Trump has gone too far in deporting immigrants living in the US illegally.
Around 47% believe he has exceeded his authority on deportations.
Roughly half also say he has gone too far in restricting legal immigration.
Most Americans oppose using traffic stops to identify and arrest undocumented immigrants.
About half of Americans disapprove of how ICE is enforcing immigration laws, while only about three in 10 approve.
About 60% of Republicans approve of ICE's enforcement; around 20% of independents approve; only 4% of Democrats approve.
32% of Americans approve of Trump's handling of the economy, compared to 40% at the beginning of his second term.
69% of Republicans approve of Trump's economic performance, down from 78% earlier in his presidency.
Only about 30% of Americans approve of his handling of healthcare.
Executive Summary
Public approval for Donald Trump on immigration has declined, moving from 49% at the start of his second term to 39% according to the AP-NORC poll. Despite this decline, immigration remains one of Trump's strongest political assets compared to the economy (32% approval) and healthcare (about 30% approval). Republican support for immigration policies remains high among the party base, with about eight out of ten Republicans approving of these policies, which is slightly lower than at the beginning of his second term.
While overall public concern exists regarding enforcement methods—with half of Americans feeling Trump has gone too far in deportations and nearly half feeling he has restricted legal immigration—Republican voters appear more accepting of these measures compared to the general public. Public opposition is focused on specific tactics like using traffic stops for arrests, while Republicans are less likely to view those actions as excessive. Furthermore, public disapproval of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement is significant: about half disapprove, though 60% of Republicans approve of ICE enforcement. The data suggests that concerns over border security remain a dominant political feature for Trump ahead of the midterm elections, even as economic and healthcare dissatisfaction has grown.
Full Take
The data reveals a profound structural divergence between general public sentiment and partisan alignment regarding immigration policy. Immigration functions as a highly resilient political asset for Trump, maintaining stronger approval than economic or healthcare metrics, demonstrating that border and enforcement narratives hold significant weight within the Republican base, even as broader economic dissatisfaction has increased. The pattern observed is the ability to anchor a political identity—in this case, hardline immigration stance—against other deteriorating public satisfaction areas.
The tension lies in the distinction between policy approval and operational fairness. While many Americans express disapproval of specific enforcement tactics, the high level of Republican endorsement for ICE demonstrates that political identity acts as a powerful buffer against moral or procedural critiques regarding enforcement methods. This suggests that concerns over the *outcome* (border security) are prioritized by the base over concerns about the *process* (deportation methods).
The deterioration in economic approval highlights a potential shift: while immigration provides durable political footing, other areas are showing greater erosion of support. The fact that healthcare dissatisfaction is becoming expectedly salient for Democrats suggests that future political battles may focus on defining Trump's legacy through identity and enforcement against tangible economic deficits. The underlying implication is that perceived security and adherence to a defined external threat structure provide stronger motivational anchors than the complex, often contradictory demands of domestic social policy in the current electoral cycle.
Bridge Questions: If immigration remains the strongest asset despite public disapproval of specific actions, what critical factor solidifies Republican support for hardline enforcement over alternative governance models? How might shifting focus from immigration to economic performance alter the dynamic between Trump's base and the broader electorate? What is the long-term impact if immigration issues remain structurally prioritized irrespective of changing economic realities?
Sentinel — Human
The text is a structured, fact-heavy journalistic report synthesizing poll data regarding Trump's approval of immigration versus other domestic issues, demonstrating the typical style of political reporting.