Criticism has arisen from the Democratic camp against Donald Trump’s strong rhetoric on immigrants entering the country unlawfully, with Joe Biden’s campaign alleging that it echoes the infamous tactics employed by Adolf Hitler.
In a display of bipartisan concern, even prominent Republicans such as Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley have distanced themselves from Trump’s remarks.
In light of the abundant negative press surrounding Trump, one might assume that his words would undoubtedly result in a loss of votes.
Although there isn’t any specific polling data regarding voters’ preference for the specific words and phrases used by Trump in his anti-immigrant rhetoric, the polls do indicate a significant level of trust in Trump when it comes to immigration and border security.
And Trump’s appeal extends beyond just native-born citizens as he garners support even among legal immigrant voters.
Here’s a summary of the key points:
- Immigrant Voter Ties: Recent CNN polls indicate that, among immigrant voters, Donald Trump and Joe Biden are tied at 48%. This is a notable shift from the 2020 election when Biden won immigrant voters by a significant margin according to the Cooperative Election Study.
- Racial Composition: Immigrant voters, as a group, are less likely to be White compared to the general voter population. Trump’s improved performance among voters of color, including Black and Hispanic voters, might explain the shift in immigrant voter preferences.
- Top Concerns: Immigration and border security are not the top concerns for immigrant voters. Over 40% of them cited economic concerns, including inflation, as the most important issue facing the country, with only a little more than 10% naming immigration and border security.
- Party Affiliation: When asked about which party’s views on immigration align more closely with their own, immigrant voters were only 1 point more likely to say the Democratic Party compared to the Republican Party. This small difference is within the margin of error.
- Percentage of Immigrant Voters: Immigrant voters make up a relatively small portion of the electorate, with about 90% of voters in recent CNN polls being born in the United States or a US territory.
- Trump’s Advantage: Overall, Trump has been more trusted than Biden on the issue of immigration and border security, as indicated by various polls. A November Marquette University Law School survey showed that 50% of registered voters believed Trump would do better on border security and immigration compared to only 27% for Biden.
- Changing Views on Immigration: Polls also suggest that a growing number of Americans are dissatisfied with the level of immigration into the country and want it decreased. A significant majority of voters want increased efforts at the southern border to stop illegal immigration, including Democrats, Republicans, and independents.
- Support for a Border Wall: Even on the contentious issue of building a wall along the US-Mexico border, recent polls show a majority of voters in favor of Trump’s proposed border wall. Biden has received lower approval ratings on the subject of immigration and border security.
These findings suggest that Trump’s stance on immigration and border security has resonated with a segment of immigrant voters, potentially contributing to the tied polling numbers in this demographic compared to the 2020 election when Biden had a larger lead among immigrant voters. However, it’s important to note that this data reflects a specific point in time and political landscape, and opinions may continue to evolve.
