Republican views on immigration appear to be undergoing a notable shift—even as most in the party continue to support President Donald Trump’s handling of the issue.
A new Gallup poll released Friday revealed a dramatic drop in the number of Republicans who want to see immigration levels reduced. In 2024, that figure stood at 88 percent. As of June, it has fallen to 48 percent.
The same survey also showed an increase in Republicans who now view immigration as having a positive impact on the country.
“These shifts reverse a four-year trend of rising concern about immigration that began in 2021 and reflect changes among all major party groups,”
wrote Lydia Saad, director of U.S. social research at Gallup, in the analysis.
White House Pushes Back
The Trump administration swiftly rejected the idea that Republican support for stricter immigration policy is fading.
In a statement to Newsweek, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said that previous polling showed strong backing for Trump’s agenda:
“Now that President Trump has reversed Biden’s disastrous immigration policies and stopped the flood of criminal illegal aliens pouring into the country, Americans have a lot less to be worried about,” Jackson stated.
“For the last two months, ZERO illegal aliens were released into the country. In 2024 under Joe Biden, 62,000 were released in just one month. Recent polling indicates Americans overwhelmingly approve of the President’s immigration policy. He is fulfilling the promises he was elected on—and the American people are grateful.”
Why It Matters
President Trump returned to office in January after campaigning on a platform of mass deportations and tougher border enforcement, following years of record-high illegal crossings and growing concerns about criminal activity linked to undocumented migrants.
Although Republican voters showed strong support last year for aggressive immigration enforcement, the recent shift in opinion may reflect a changing dynamic under Trump’s second term. The stricter policies already in place appear to have tempered anxieties, softening public rhetoric among some conservatives.
Whether this signals a long-term shift or a temporary pause in hardline sentiment remains to be seen—but for now, Trump’s base appears satisfied with the results.
What You Need to Know
The latest Gallup survey, conducted between June 2 and June 26 with a nationally representative sample of 1,402 U.S. adults, reveals a sharp decline in the number of Americans who want immigration levels reduced.
That figure, which peaked at 55% in 2024, has now dropped to 30%. Among Republicans, the shift is even more dramatic — plunging from 88% to 48% in just one year, nearly a 50% drop.
At the time of the previous survey, anti-immigrant sentiment was likely elevated due to the heat of the 2024 presidential race and lingering frustrations over President Biden’s immigration policies, especially concerning the southern border.
Though border crossings had already begun to decline by mid-2024, they fell even further following President Trump’s return to office in January, reflecting a tangible shift in enforcement.
Perceptions of Immigration Are Shifting
Gallup’s latest numbers also show a surge in positive views of immigration. As of June, 79% of Americans say immigration has a positive effect on the U.S.
Among Democrats, that number reached 91%
Among Republicans, it rose from 39% in 2024 to 64% in 2025
Meanwhile, only 17% of Americans now believe immigration has a negative impact, down from 32% last year.
Views on Trump’s Policies Are Evolving
Support appears to be waning for some of the high-profile immigration policies championed by Trump:
In 2024, 76% of Americans supported hiring more Border Patrol agents. That figure has since dropped by 17 percentage points.
Support for expanding the border wall and for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants also declined.
By contrast, support for pathways to citizenship — especially for undocumented immigrants and their children who meet specific criteria — saw slight increases.
While these changes are most prominent among Democrats and Independents, Republicans have also shown increased openness to legal pathways for immigrants—mirroring trends seen in polling around the 2024 election.
Although President Trump has, at times, expressed a desire to protect so-called Dreamers—young undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children—his administration has yet to introduce any concrete policies addressing their status.
Instead, the focus has remained firmly on immigration enforcement, with ICE raids intensifying and detention numbers rising sharply as a result.
Despite the lack of action on Dreamers, Trump continues to enjoy strong support from Republican voters for his handling of immigration, according to the latest Gallup data.
However, that support does not extend to the broader public: a majority of Americans disapprove of the administration’s approach to immigration overall.
What People Are Saying
Stephen Yale-Loehr, a former immigration law professor at Cornell University, told Newsweek:
“The Gallup poll results make it clear — President Trump’s mass deportation push is backfiring. Americans increasingly understand that immigration benefits the country. We need immigrants to sustain and grow our economy.”
Lydia Saad, Gallup’s director of U.S. social research, wrote in her analysis:
“The spike in illegal border crossings under the Biden administration sparked public concern and a demand for tougher enforcement. But the Trump administration’s swift, high-profile response has largely neutralized that anxiety — especially among Republicans.
As a result, Americans’ views on immigration have shifted back to pre-surge levels, showing broader appreciation for immigration, reduced calls for cuts, and growing support for citizenship pathways for undocumented immigrants.”
David Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, echoed that sentiment:
“The poll shows a clear backlash to President Trump’s immigration agenda. Voters wanted the chaos at the border resolved — not relocated into their neighborhoods through aggressive enforcement in the interior.”
Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) also weighed in, issuing a statement that emphasized the economic value of immigration:
“Our economy relies on the vital contributions of immigrants. California isn’t the world’s fourth-largest economy in spite of immigrants — it’s because of them, as workers, consumers, and entrepreneurs.
Now is the moment to deliver permanent protections — a pathway to citizenship — for Dreamers, farm workers, and millions of long-term residents who have spent too long in the shadows.”