President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation policies may be hurting Republican prospects in the upcoming midterm elections, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. The six-day poll found that 52% of Americans are less likely to support candidates who back Trump's approach to deportations, while only 42% said they were more likely to support such candidates.
Key Takeaways
A Reuters/Ipsos poll suggests that President Donald Trump's aggressive deportation policies may negatively impact Republican candidates in the upcoming midterm elections. Key points include: - 52% of Americans less likely to support pro-deportation candidates, per Reuters/Ipsos poll - Independents strongly prefer anti-deportation candidates (57%) over pro-Trump ones (32%) - Trump's approval on immigration dropped from 50% to 40% since his inauguration - ICE arrests decreased slightly but remain high compared to early 2025
The impact is particularly stark among independents, with 57% preferring candidates who oppose Trump’s deportation policies and just 32% supporting those who align with the president on immigration. This poses a significant challenge for Republicans aiming to defend their majorities in Congress amid rising fuel prices due to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
Trump's hardline stance on immigration, which initially had broad support, has seen declining approval. After aggressive enforcement measures that included deploying masked federal agents and resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens, only 40% now approve of his performance on immigration, down from 50% shortly after his inauguration.
The Trump administration has slightly reduced its daily arrests of immigrants, with ICE detaining just over 1,000 people a day in early March compared to nearly 1,300 per day in December. However, this remains more than double the rate from January 2025.
The poll also revealed that while Americans support secure borders and enforcing immigration laws, a majority (76%) believe unauthorized migrants with jobs and no criminal record should have a pathway to legal status. Some Republicans, like Representative Maria Elvira Salazar, are advocating for less aggressive deportation policies, arguing that such measures respect Trump's agenda by securing the border.
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