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President Donald Trump's approval rating on immigration is steadily declining, according to numerous polls. Newsweek reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) via email Friday for comment. Why It Matters Trump has routinely touted positive approval ratings and polling during news conferences and campaign rallies throughout his political career.
When the president returned to the White House in January, he coasted in with positive numbers. But his approval ratings have dipped significantly in the last few weeks, notably amid sweeping tariff announcements. Trump later walked back the tariffs by implementing a 90-day pause on most of them.
Sliding in the polls could ultimately hinder Trump's political clout in an already highly polarized climate and potentially hurt Republican chances in the upcoming 2026 midterms. What To Know In Trump's first 100 days in office of his second presidency, he has made immigration a key priority. He has issued orders to allow deportations and appointed Tom Homan as his border czar to oversee immigration policies.
The administration is currently embroiled in a contentious legal battle regarding the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an El Salvadoran immigrant who was deported back to his home country accidentally due to an "administrative error." The Trump administration has accused Abrego Garcia of being in MS-13, an El Salvadoran gang that has been designated as a terrorist organization. Abrego Garcia and his lawyers have denied any ties to the gang.
An immigration court granted Abrego Garcia's request not to be deported back to El Salvador over fears of being a target of MS-13's gang rivals. Abrego Garcia has no criminal record in the United States but was detained in 2019 on loitering accusations. In 2021, his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, accused him of domestic violence and filed paperwork to obtain a restraining order, but says they have since reconciled.
In an exclusive statement to Newsweek, Vasquez Sura said, in part: "Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process. We were able to work through the situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling." President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the White House on April 24, 2025.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the White House on April 24, 2025. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Trump's Approval Ratings on Immigration Numerous polls released this week show a decline in the president's approval rating regarding his handling of immigration. An Associated Press/NORC poll conducted from April 17 to 21 showed that the president has a 46 percent approval rating compared to a 53 percent disapproval rating on immigration.
The poll was taken among 1,260 people with a 3.9 percent margin of error. A previous Associated Press/NORC poll, conducted from March 20 to 24, showed Trump with a 49 percent approval rating and a 50 percent disapproval rating on immigration. The survey was conducted among 1,229 American adults with a 3.9 percent margin of error.
The polls show Trump has slipped three percentage points in his approval rating from March to April. This is within the margin of error. According to a YouGov/The Economist poll taken from April 19 to 22, the president has a 45 percent approval rating for his handling of immigration.
His disapproval rating was 50 percent. The poll was taken among 1,625 U.S. adults with a 3.3 percent margin of error. In a poll taken two weeks prior, from April 5 to 8, the president's approval rating on immigration was 50 percent, and his disapproval rating was 44 percent.
The poll was taken among 1,741 U.S. adults with a 3.1 percent margin of error. These polls show the president's approval rating sliding five points, outside the margin of error. In a poll by ABC News, The Washington Post, and Ipsos, taken from April 18 to April 22, Trump's approval rating among Americans on immigration was 46 percent.
His disapproval rating was 53 percent. The poll's margin of error is 2.1 percent, and it surveyed 2,529 people. In a previous poll by the same group in February, Trump's approval rating was 50 percent and his disapproval rating was 48 percent.
This poll has a margin of error of 1.2 percent. Trump's approval rating on immigration fell 4 percent in this poll from February to April, outside the margin of error. What People Are Saying Former political pollster Adam Carlson on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday: "And just like that, Trump's approval rating on immigration is underwater for the first time this term."
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, on X on Friday: "Three polls released today which have shown Trump's ratings on immigration. The other two had him both at -7%. This is his best one, with approval at -4%."
President Donald Trump on Truth Social on Thursday: "THE DEMOCRATS ARE FIGHTING LIKE HELL TO KEEP MURDERERS, AND ALL OTHER TYPE OF CRIMINALS, SOLIDLY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THEY HAVE GONE CRAZY, AND ARE ONLY GETTING WORSE!!!" What Happens Next Polls continue to be released weekly regarding Trump's approval rating in general and on specific issues, such as immigration.
