Many Americans see themselves as divided on immigration. Disagreements persist about family separation at the southern border, potential criminals entering the country illegally — and even how to describe people who enter the country without authorization.
But despite these perceived divisions, some recent surveys have found that many Republicans and Democrats share significant overlaps on immigration attitudes and policy issues.
Check out these surveys conducted since February 2024:
- Recent 2025 Pew data on public opinion surrounding mass deportations shows some interesting agreements:
- 97% of Americans agree that among illegal or undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., those who are violent criminal offenders should be deported to their home countries.
- A slim majority of 52% believe that non-violent criminal offenders should also be deported.
- Over 60% of Americans believe that immigration raids should not take place in places of worship, schools, or hospitals.
- 81% of Americans do not worry that someone close to them will be deported.
- Gallup provides some extensive data on where Americans agree on immigration in 2024-2025:
- 55% of Americans believe immigration into the United States must be decreased.
- 63% of Americans personally worry about illegal immigration.
- 63% of Americans are dissatisfied with the current state of the nation in terms of illegal immigration.
- 64% of Americans believe immigration in general is good for the country.
- 76% of Americans favor hiring more border patrol agents.
- 81% of Americans believe that immigrants brought to the United States as children should have a path to citizenship so long as they meet certain requirements.
- 63% of Americans agree that the President and Secretary of Homeland Security should have the authority to temporarily prohibit asylum seekers from entering the country when the border is overwhelmed.
- A significant majority of Americans, 77%, view concerns regarding the US-Mexico border as either a crisis or a major problem.
- 86% of Americans view large numbers of immigrants entering the United States illegally as either a critical/important issue.
- 2024 Pew data showed some similarities between the views of Trump and Harris supporters:
- 80% of Harris-supporters and 96% of Trump-supporters agree that border security should be increased.
- 89% of Harris-supporters and 63% of Trump-supporters believe that international students who received a college degree in the U.S. should be permitted to stay.
- A strong majority of Harris-supporters (87%) and Trump-supporters (71%) support increasing the number of high-skilled immigrants admitted.
Hyria Stuart is a college student currently studying in Beijing. He majors in social work and serves as a political research assistant (American/international politics) at Boston College. Hyria has published in “Raise the Voices.” His political bias is Lean Left.
This piece was edited by AllSides.com Managing Editor Henry A. Brechter (Center bias), and was reviewed by James Coan (Center) of Braver Angels.
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