Support Rises For Giving Most Undocumented Immigrants A Pathway To Legal Status vs. Deportations, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; More Than 9 In 10 Voters Say Politically Motivated Violence In The U.S. Is A Serious Problem

Nearly two-thirds of voters (64 percent) say they prefer giving most undocumented immigrants in the United States a pathway to legal status, while 31 percent say they prefer deporting most undocumented immigrants in the United States, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University national poll of registered voters released today.

This is a change from roughly six months ago. In Quinnipiac University's December 18, 2024 poll, 55 percent of voters said they preferred giving most undocumented immigrants a pathway to legal status and 36 percent said they preferred deporting most undocumented immigrants in the United States.

In today's poll, 31 percent of Republicans say they prefer giving most undocumented immigrants in the U.S. a pathway to legal status, while 61 percent say they prefer deporting them.

Among Democrats, 89 percent say they prefer giving most undocumented immigrants in the U.S. a pathway to legal status, while 8 percent say they prefer deporting them.

Among independents, 71 percent say they prefer giving most undocumented immigrants in the U.S. a pathway to legal status, while 24 percent say they prefer deporting them.

ICE

Voters 56 - 39 percent disapprove of the way U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, is doing its job.

Republicans (77 - 17 percent) approve of the way ICE is doing its job, while Democrats (89 - 9 percent) and independents (64 - 32 percent) disapprove of the way ICE is doing its job.

"Keep a path open for undocumented immigrants to stay in the U.S. legally, say voters, who are unhappy with the way deportations are being handled," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

LOS ANGELES PROTESTS

Voters 55 - 43 percent disapprove of President Trump's decision to send National Guard troops to respond to protests in Los Angeles.

Voters 60 - 37 percent disapprove of President Trump's decision to send U.S. Marines to respond to protests in Los Angeles.

TRUMP JOB APPROVAL

Forty-one percent of voters approve of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president, while 54 percent disapprove. This compares to Quinnipiac University's June 11 poll when 38 percent approved and 54 percent disapproved.

In today's poll, Republicans (87 - 9 percent) approve, while Democrats (92 - 6 percent) and independents (64 - 31 percent) disapprove.

Voters were asked about Trump's handling of seven issues...

• the military: 45 percent approve, while 49 percent disapprove, with 6 percent not offering an opinion;
• immigration issues: 41 percent approve, while 57 percent disapprove, with 2 percent not offering an opinion;
• foreign policy: 40 percent approve, while 54 percent disapprove, with 5 percent not offering an opinion;
• the Israel - Iran war: 39 percent approve, while 53 percent disapprove, with 8 percent not offering an opinion;
• the economy: 39 percent approve, while 56 percent disapprove, with 6 percent not offering an opinion;
• deportations: 39 percent approve, while 59 percent disapprove, with 3 percent not offering an opinion;
• trade: 38 percent approve, while 55 percent disapprove, with 7 percent not offering an opinion.

POLITICALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE

Ninety-one percent of voters think that politically motivated violence in the United States today is either a very serious problem (54 percent) or a somewhat serious problem (37 percent), while 8 percent think it is either a not so serious problem (6 percent) or not a problem at all (2 percent).

"There is broad agreement across party lines that a cloud of potential political violence looms over the country," added Malloy.

MOST URGENT ISSUE

Given a list of nine issues and asked which is the most urgent one facing the country today, preserving democracy in the United States (24 percent) ranks at the top, followed by the economy (19 percent), immigration (18 percent), and international conflicts (15 percent). No other issue reached double digits.

In Quinnipiac University's polls on January 29 and March 13, the economy topped the list.

DEMOCRACY

Nearly half of voters (49 percent) think the system of democracy in the United States is not working, while 43 percent say it is working.

Among those voters who think the system of democracy in the United States is not working, 60 percent blame the Republicans, while 15 percent blame the Democrats. Twenty percent volunteered that they blame both the Republicans and the Democrats and 3 percent volunteered that they blame neither party.

A vast majority of voters (73 percent) do not think democracy in the United States will end in their lifetime, while 17 percent think democracy in the United States will end in their lifetime.

"Democracy, the bedrock of the country, will not collapse in the decades to come, say voters from across the political spectrum," added Malloy.

REPUBLICAN TAX & SPENDING BILL

Seventy-one percent of voters say they have heard or read either a lot (36 percent) or some (35 percent) about the Republican tax and spending bill named One Big Beautiful Bill Act, while 28 percent say they have heard or read either not too much (12 percent) or not much at all (16 percent) about the bill.

Fifty-five percent oppose the bill, while 29 percent support it, with 16 percent not offering an opinion.

This compares to Quinnipiac University's June 11 poll, when 53 percent of voters opposed the bill, 27 percent supported it, and 20 percent did not offer an opinion.

Voters are split on one of the bill's measures that would require new qualifications to receive health insurance through Medicaid. The change would require able-bodied adults under 65 years old who are not disabled to prove they are working or volunteering at least 80 hours a month. Forty-seven percent of voters support the measure, while 46 percent oppose it.

979 self-identified registered voters nationwide were surveyed from June 22nd - 24th with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on probability-based samples using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.

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