President Donald Trump’s strict immigration policy has caused a lot of anger and protest in cities like Los Angeles, where some demonstrations have even turned violent. But across the country, people are split on whether they agree with him mostly based on political views.
Trump’s administration plans to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. Immigration agents (ICE) have already done many raids, and in some cases, even people who had legal documents were taken. After reports of violence during these actions in Los Angeles, Trump sent 2,000 National Guard troops to the city to support federal agents.
Protests grew especially tense after claims surfaced that some people arrested were being held in the basement of a federal building. ICE denied those claims, saying they were false.
These events have made tensions worse between cities that protect undocumented immigrants (known as sanctuary cities) and the federal government. Trump has used older laws and executive orders to increase his power over immigration enforcement.
Polls show that while more than half of Americans support the idea of deporting undocumented immigrants, many don’t like the way it’s being done. According to a CBS News/YouGov poll:
- 54% support Trump’s overall deportation policy.
- But 56% don’t like how the government is doing it.
- 53% think dangerous criminals are being targeted.
- 47% believe non-dangerous people are being removed as well.
Some Americans say Trump is going beyond what he promised during his campaign. Nearly half believe he’s deporting more people than expected. Only 10% think he’s doing less.
There’s also strong support for legal rights during deportation cases:
- 63% believe noncitizens should get a court hearing.
- 79% say it’s unacceptable to wrongly deport a U.S. resident.
While Trump is trying to end birthright citizenship (the right to citizenship for anyone born in the U.S.), 70% of Americans want that right to stay.
Public opinion is also mixed on the military being involved. Only 34% approve of using Marines in Los Angeles; 47% disapprove. Recently, the Trump administration activated 700 Marines to assist National Guard troops there.
Another YouGov poll showed that just 39% approve of how Trump is handling deportations; 50% disapprove. Views differ sharply based on race, age, and gender:
- Race: White Americans are the only group where more support (44%) than oppose (46%) Trump’s approach. Most Black (63%) and Hispanic (55%) Americans disapprove.
- Age: Only about a third of people under 45 support Trump’s deportation efforts. Older adults, especially seniors, are more likely to approve.
- Gender: Almost half of men (48%) support Trump’s approach, while only 31% of women do. A majority of women (55%) oppose it.
Party loyalty also plays a huge role:
- 84% of Republicans support Trump’s deportation actions.
- Only 10% of Democrats and 30% of independents agree.
Most Americans think state and local governments not the federal government—should be in charge of handling situations like this. Even 56% of independents and 72% of Democrats agree on this point.
People are also divided on the protests in Los Angeles. Around 45% disapprove of the protests, while 36% support them. Among Democrats, 58% are in favor. Among Republicans, only 15% approve. When asked whether the protests were mostly peaceful or violent, the answers were split: 38% said peaceful, 36% said violent. Most Republicans believe they were mostly violent.
Since the National Guard arrived, some protests have turned into riots with reports of fires, property damage, and violence toward police. But many people are still protesting peacefully. Critics say Trump’s use of military force is making the situation worse.
Nationally, the public is split on Trump’s broader immigration plans. One poll showed 51% support and 49% oppose. Another showed an even split at 50/50.
Still, Trump’s popularity is higher than California Governor Gavin Newsom’s, even though Newsom is suing Trump for sending troops to Los Angeles without his approval. Newsom says Trump went beyond his legal powers and is making things worse in California.
Trump, on the other hand, defends the decision. He said on social media that without the National Guard, Los Angeles would have been destroyed by violence.
Protests against ICE actions are expected to continue in L.A. and other big cities. Large protests are being planned nationwide for Trump’s birthday on June 14.
This situation is far from over. The country is still deeply divided over immigration—and over who should have the final say in how it’s handled.
