Deportation Policies

Last updated: February 12, 2026.

Key Point Summary

Most Americans support the general concept of deporting immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally, but support varies sharply depending on who is being deported and the history and circumstances of the immigrant.

  • General deportation: A majority of Americans  support deporting undocumented immigrants when questions are phrased broadly, with support appearing to soften modestly in the second half of 2025.
  • Targeted deportation for criminals: Support increases to much higher majority levels (in some cases near universal) when potential deportees are described in question wording as having been convicted of violent crimes. Support is moderated but remains a clear majority when potential deportees are described as having committed non-violent crimes.   
  • Deportation for immigrants with specific humanitarian or family situations: Support for deporting long-established, working immigrants with family ties falls well below the majority level, with exact results depending on the specifics of the described scenario.

Bottom line: Americans support the general concept of deporting undocumented immigrants, and clearly favor deporting undocumented immigrants who pose clear public safety risks. But Americans oppose or hesitate to deport those who are rooted in U.S. communities, have families, or came as children.

Availability of Data and Confidence in Conclusions

This assessment is based on 137 questions from 51 nationally representative surveys conducted between 2025 and 2026, with a total sample size of 101,400. This is one of the largest evidence bases in this report. At the same time, consistency is mixed because the questions cover many different deportation scenarios with distinct categories of undocumented immigrants—such as undocumented immigrants with criminal records. Even so, the breadth and depth of the evidence are substantial enough to support a confident high-level summary, provided the internal differences are acknowledged. By comparison, our 2022-2024 polling data on deportation policies consists of 47 questions from 28 nationally representative surveys, with a total sample size of 64,084.

 Overall Confidence: GOOD.

Policy Implications

Public opinion on deportations is complex but provides consistent guidance for policymakers.

There is broad latitude for the government to pursue targeted deportation policies, especially against individuals convicted of serious crimes. Such approaches command supermajority support and are politically secure.

There is, however, less than majority support for deporting undocumented immigrants with U.S. family ties, long residence, or employment.

Additionally, undifferentiated proposals for mass or blanket deportations face public resistance even though Americans favor the general idea of selective deportation.

Americans clearly differentiate between categories of undocumented immigrants. Deportation policies that fail to recognize those distinctions are politically risky and likely to provoke backlash.

In short, enforcement that is selective and safety-based aligns most closely with public sentiment. Across the board, undifferentiated deportation or punitive enforcement does not.

Detailed Discussion

The majority or plurality of Americans indicate that they support the general idea of deporting immigrants who are in this country illegally. 

  • Almost all binary questions giving respondents favor or oppose options      find majority or plurality support for general deportation of undocumented immigrants. Support ranges from as high as 68% in early 2025 [1] and, in one instance, as low as 45% (with 42% opposition) in a February poll which asks about “mass deportation of everyone in the country without legal status.” [2]
  • Later in 2025, several polls found general support for deportation settling in the mid-to-high 50s range, including 56% in June among registered voters [3], 57% in July [4], and 56–58% in polling conducted from September through November. [5,6]

These questions ask about deportation with no reference to the specific situations of the immigrants other than they are here without documentation.

Additionally, support for general deportation appears to be highest when questions are asked in a very straightforward fashion without specifying precise numbers or specifying that all undocumented immigrants would be deported. These wordings include “deporting immigrants who are here illegally” and “deporting immigrants who are here illegally back to their home country.”

  • In these instances, support typically rises to the high 50% level and in some surveys much higher. [1,4,5,6]           

General support for deportation is lower when questions are more specific about numbers involved.

  • Favor was roughly split with a positive tilt in a 2025 survey of registered voters which asked respondents about detaining and deporting millions of undocumented immigrants (support 52%, opposition 45%). [7] A similar question in April among registered voters found comparable favor at 53%, with 44% opposed. [8] 
  • One question asked in February 2025 specified deporting all 11,000,000 undocumented immigrants, finding mixed support slightly above the majority level (51% support/45% opposition). [9]

The lowest support within the set of questions which do not include specifics about immigrants being deported arises from a question asking about mass deportation of everyone in the country without legal status. This question found plurality of support (45%), compared to42% opposed (February 2025), [2] with a relatively large percentage providing no opinion.

One survey question asked in March 2025 provided respondents with three options: deporting some immigrants living in the country illegally, deporting all immigrants living in the country illegally, or deporting no immigrants living in the country illegally (March 2025).

  • This question structure found 32% support for deporting all undocumented immigrants, 51% support for deporting some, and 16% support for no deportations. [10]

Thus, over eight out of ten Americans can support the idea of deporting at least some undocumented immigrants. But given a choice, the American public tilts towards deporting some rather than deporting all.

Another binary deportation question asked in January 2025 gave respondents the explicit option of saying they didn't have an opinion. The results showed that 43% of Americans favored deporting all immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, 37% opposed, while 19% said they didn't have an opinion either way. [11] When this question was repeated in August 2025, favor dipped to 38%, with 40% opposing, a rare instance of plurality opposition to a general deportation question. [12] By October 2025 the results returned to 43% favor and 34% opposed. [13]

This variability underscores the conclusion (explored further below) that American public opinion on the general issue of deporting undocumented immigrants is sensitive to timing and question framing. 

Opinions on Deportation When Specific Circumstances Are Mentioned

Americans’ opinions about deporting undocumented immigrants varies significantly when the specific characteristics of the immigrant population under consideration are described in question wording. 

One consistent conclusion from the data: support for deportation rises sharply when the undocumented immigrants are described as having been involved in criminal activities.

  • Americans' support for deportation increases to between about three-quarters and near-unanimity when questions specify that deportations should target those undocumented immigrants convicted of violent crimes. Support for these deportations was measured at 83% in January 2025, [14] 89% in February, [15] 98% March of 2025, [16] and 80% in a survey conducted in June. [17]
  • About six in ten Americans support deporting undocumented immigrants convicted of non-violent offenses. [18]

Several questions included references to Donald Trump or the Trump administration. Results do not appear to be significantly different from those which did not include references to the Trump administration.

  • In sharp contrast to the support for deporting undocumented immigrants convicted of criminal activity, well less than a majority of Americans support deportation when respondents are told the immigrants have lived in the country for many years, are working, have U.S.-born children, or came as children themselves.
  • Only about one-quarter to one-third of Americans favor deporting undocumented immigrants long established in the U.S. (26–30%), [19,20] those with citizen children (30–37%), [21,22] or those undocumented people married to U.S. citizens (20%). [23]
  • Roughly four in ten favor deporting immigrants who are employed, while only three in ten would deport individuals who were brought into the country illegally when they were children. [25,26]
  • Slightly less than half (46% in favor/51% opposed) of registered voters      support deportation when the question specifies “Even if it means worker shortages”. [27]

Overall, the data portray a nuanced consensus on deportation of undocumented immigrants. Most Americans endorse deportation of undocumented immigrants in principle and especially criminals, but they show strong humanitarian restraint toward those embedded in U.S. families, communities, and workplaces.

In summary, public opinion data provide a general rank-ordered ladder of support for deportation along these lines:

  1. Convicted of violent crimes (≈80–98%). [14,15,16,17]
  2. Convicted of non-violent crimes (≈58–68%). [18]
  3. Arrived within last 4-5 years (~55-64%). [28,29]
  4. General “deport those here illegally” / “increase deportations” (~55–68%). [1,3,4,5,6]
  5. Has a job (~39-41%). [24]
  6. Parents of U.S.-born children (~30-37%). [21,22]
  7. Not convicted of a violent crime (~37%). [30]
  8. Here 10+ years, no record (~26–34%). [19,20]
  9. Came as children (DACA-like) (~26-30%). [25,26]
  10. Married to a U.S. citizen (~20%). [23]

Bottom Line: Americans overwhelmingly endorse deportation for those who break criminal laws, but show much lower support for those with deep social and family roots in the U.S.

Impact of question wording and other survey factors

Americans’ attitudes about deporting undocumented immigrants are complex and highly sensitive to question wording, as reviewed in the sections above. Assessments of public opinion on deportation must therefore carefully take into account how survey items are framed—including the degree to which questions specify the scope of deportation efforts and the degree to which they reference the particular life history and life situations of the immigrants involved.

Trends Over Time (2022–2025)

While earlier polling (2022–2023) found mixed or divided views, support for deportation as a general concept stabilized in majority territory through 2025, though monthly tracking suggests a modest softening from the high 60s early in the year to the mid-to-high 50s by mid-year. At the same time, the hierarchy of who should or should not be deported—criminals at the top, families and long-term residents at the bottom—has remained relatively consistent across surveys and across multiple survey waves conducted throughout 2025.

Citations

  1. Marquette Law School/SSRS. (2025). New Marquette Law School national survey finds public skeptical of tariffs and inflation trends, but increasingly positive on the nation's direction. Fielded 3/17/25-3/27/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  2. NPR/Ipsos. (2025). Muted support for recent immigration crackdowns. Fielded 2/7/25-2/10/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  3. Fox News/Beacon Research/Shaw & Company Research/Fox News. (2025). Fox June 2025 Topline - June 19 Release. Fielded 6/13/25-6/16/25.
  4. Marquette Law School/SSRS. (2025). U.S. Supreme Court and National Issues Survey. Fielded 7/7/25-7/16/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  5. Marquette Law School/SSRS. (2025). Large majority think political violence is a big problem, but with sharp partisan differences on who is to blame. Fielded 9/15/25-9/24/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  6. Marquette Law School/SSRS. (2025). 55% say Department of Justice has filed unjustified cases against Trump's political opponents. Fielded 11/5/25-11/12/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  7. Wall Street Journal/GBAO/WSJ/Fabrizio Lee. (2025). WSJ_JAN25. Fielded 1/9/25-1/14/25.
  8. Wall Street Journal/Impact Research/WSJ/Fabrizio Lee. (2025). NATIONWIDE POLL MARCH 2025. Fielded 3/27/25-4/1/25.
  9. Washington Post/Ipsos. (2025). Support is mixed for the Trump administration's executive orders and policies. Fielded 2/13/25-2/18/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  10. Pew Research Center/SSRS. (2025). Americans' Views of Deportations. Fielded 3/10/25-3/16/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  11. Associated Press/AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. (2025). US adults want border security action but mostly oppose arrests in schools, churches. Fielded 1/9/25-1/13/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  12. Associated Press/NORC at the University of Chicago/AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. (2025). Younger adults are less engaged with U.S. politics. Fielded 7/10/25-7/14/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  13. Associated Press/NORC at the University of Chicago/AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. (2025). Few people support the daylight saving time system, and more want year-round light in the evenings. Fielded 10/9/25-10/13/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  14. Associated Press/AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. (2025). US adults want border security action but mostly oppose arrests in schools, churches. Fielded 1/9/25-1/13/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  15. Washington Post/Ipsos. (2025). Support is mixed for the Trump administration's executive orders and policies. Fielded 2/13/25-2/18/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  16. Pew Research Center/SSRS. (2025). Americans' Views of Deportations. Fielded 3/10/25-3/16/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  17. NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll. (2025). NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll National Adults June 23–25, 2025. Fielded 6/23/25-6/25/25.
  18. Washington Post/Ipsos. (2025). Support is mixed for the Trump administration's executive orders and policies. Fielded 2/13/25-2/18/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  19. Washington Post/Ipsos. (2025). Support is mixed for the Trump administration's executive orders and policies. Fielded 2/13/25-2/18/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  20. Wall Street Journal/GBAO/WSJ/Fabrizio Lee. (2025). WSJ_JAN25. Fielded 1/9/25-1/14/25.
  21. Washington Post/Ipsos. (2025). Support is mixed for the Trump administration's executive orders and policies. Fielded 2/13/25-2/18/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  22. Pew Research Center/SSRS. (2025). 42% of U.S. adults expect deportations to lead to higher food prices in their area. Fielded 2/24/25-3/2/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  23. Pew Research Center/SSRS. (2025). 42% of U.S. adults expect deportations to lead to higher food prices in their area. Fielded 2/24/25-3/2/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  24. Pew Research Center/SSRS. (2025). 42% of U.S. adults expect deportations to lead to higher food prices in their area. Fielded 2/24/25-3/2/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  25. Pew Research Center/SSRS. (2025). 42% of U.S. adults expect deportations to lead to higher food prices in their area. Fielded 2/24/25-3/2/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  26. Washington Post/Ipsos. (2025). Support is mixed for the Trump administration's executive orders and policies. Fielded 2/13/25-2/18/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  27. Wall Street Journal/GBAO/WSJ/Fabrizio Lee. (2025). WSJ_JAN25. Fielded 1/9/25-1/14/25.
  28. Pew Research Center/SSRS. (2025). 42% of U.S. adults expect deportations to lead to higher food prices in their area. Fielded 2/24/25-3/2/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  29. Washington Post/Ipsos. (2025). Support is mixed for the Trump administration's executive orders and policies. Fielded 2/13/25-2/18/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  30. Associated Press/AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. (2025). US adults want border security action but mostly oppose arrests in schools, churches. Fielded 1/9/25-1/13/25. Accessed via Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.

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