Key facts
- A POLITICO Poll shows that 65% of MAGA Trump voters and 69% of non-MAGA Trump voters want to see about the same number or more people coming to the U.S. to work in sectors facing labor shortages.
- White House spokesperson Lauren Bis stated that the American people sent President Trump back to the White House to stop the invasion of the country and deport illegal aliens.
- Matt Barreto, who conducted polling for Kamala Harris' 2024 campaign, said Trump's focus on hunting down immigrants who are working and contributing to America has extremely limited support.
- Past POLITICO polling indicated the Trump administration struggled to reverse voter damage on immigration and faced concerns from battleground Republicans.
- The Trump administration softened its rhetoric and abandoned flashy raids following bipartisan outrage after federal agents killed two U.S. citizens.
A POLITICO Poll conducted by Public First from September 13 to 15 among 2,064 U.S. adults suggests a potential rift within Donald Trump's voter base concerning immigration policy. While the administration, represented by White House spokesperson Lauren Bis, emphasizes deporting undocumented immigrants, polling data indicates a significant portion of Trump's supporters are open to maintaining or increasing immigration to fill labor shortages.
According to the poll, 65% of MAGA Trump voters and 69% of non-MAGA Trump voters believe the U.S. should maintain or increase the number of immigrants working in sectors facing labor shortages, such as agriculture, construction, hospitality, and health care. This sentiment contrasts with a more hardline approach to immigration enforcement.
Matt Barreto, a pollster who worked on Kamala Harris' 2024 campaign, suggested that Trump's focus on deporting immigrants who are working and contributing to the U.S. may be a miscalculation of voter priorities. He noted that voters expressed a desire for more border order and security, but not necessarily the aggressive pursuit of working immigrants.
Past polling by POLITICO has indicated challenges for the Trump administration in addressing voter concerns on immigration. Reports from last fall highlighted worries among battleground Republicans about the administration's immigration tactics, which intensified in subsequent months. Following bipartisan outrage over federal agents killing two U.S. citizens, the administration reportedly softened its rhetoric and scaled back large-scale raids.
Despite these shifts, officials like Mullin are reportedly facing pressure from immigration hardliners within the MAGA movement who believe he is not fully committed to the president's deportation promises. In response, top administration accounts, including Mullin's, have increased their focus on ICE arrest statistics and enforcement rhetoric.