Recent polling data presented by CNN’s Harry Enten on Thursday reveals that a majority of Americans now support the deportation of all undocumented immigrants, a significant increase from 38% in 2016 to 56% in 2025.
“Why is Trump focusing on immigration? Let me just tell you, this is where Trump wants the focus. Pretty, pretty please with a cherry on top. Why is that?” Enten asked as he presented the poll results. “This is one of his strongest issues at plus one point. And more than that, on the net approval — the net approval for him on this issue has stayed steady in the positive. This is an area where Donald Trump wants to focus because the bottom line is this is an area in which the American people, at least the bare majority of them, seem to like what he’s doing.”
Immigration is "where Trump wants the focus… Pretty, pretty please with a cherry on top."
-His net approval on immigration is positive
-A plurality say under Trump immigration policy is on the right track (unlike under Biden)
-Most want all undocumented immigrants deported pic.twitter.com/5RbgJPjW7D
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) April 17, 2025
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This shift in public opinion is seen as a key factor behind President Donald Trump’s positive approval ratings on immigration, distinguishing his policies from those of former President Joe Biden.
Under Biden, 62% of Americans felt the country was on the wrong track regarding immigration, while under Trump, that figure has flipped, with a plurality now saying the country is on the right track. Multiple polls from reputable sources, including the New York Times and Marquette, corroborate this trend, showing consistent majority support for mass deportations.
“So in a big switcheroo from where we were back in January, the plurality of Americans say that the country is on the right track when it comes to immigration policy,” Enten continued. “Back in December, when Joe Biden was president, the vast majority said that we were on the wrong track. Again, this points out that on the whole, Americans like where we’re going on immigration policy under Donald Trump, which is very different from where we were under Joe Biden.”
Critics, however, argue that Trump’s approach raises concerns about due process and legal protections for immigrants. Nonetheless, the data indicates that immigration remains one of Trump’s strongest issues with voters, driving favorable perceptions of his administration’s direction on the matter.
Enten concluded: “The American people have come a long way on this issue, much closer to Donald Trump, and I think that’s a big part of the reason why Americans are increasingly saying the country is on the right track when it comes to immigration policy, and why Donald Trump’s net approval rating on that issue is in the positive, very much unlike his first term.”
Connor Walcott is the lead writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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