Trump's policies could cost Republicans election, poll finds
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump’s aggressive policy on deporting migrants could negatively impact the Republican Party’s standing in the November midterm congressional elections, according to Reuters.
According to the poll, 52% of Americans said they would be less likely to support a candidate who endorses Trump’s approach to deportations. At the same time, 42% of respondents said they would, on the contrary, be more likely to vote for such a candidate.
The negative sentiment is particularly pronounced among voters who do not support either of the major parties: 57% of independents oppose strict deportation policies, while only 32% are willing to support candidates who share Trump’s position.
Against this backdrop, Republicans may face a tough battle to retain their majority in both houses of Congress. The situation is further complicated by rising fuel prices linked to the conflict between the US and Israel against Iran.
Reuters poll screenshot
Although about 50% of Americans supported Trump’s immigration policy after his inauguration in January 2025, that figure has now dropped to 40%.
This shift in sentiment is linked to more than a year of aggressive law enforcement campaigns, including mass detentions.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, more than 1,000 people were detained daily in early March, a significant increase from early 2025.
Despite this, most Americans support border control (84%) and enforcement of immigration laws (87%).
At the same time, 76% support the possibility of legalization for migrants without criminal records who are working in the US.
Some Republicans are already calling for a more lenient approach to deportations.
US immigration policy tightening
Following the start of Donald Trump’s second presidential term, the United States significantly tightened its immigration policy and launched a large-scale campaign to deport migrants.
The impetus for these stricter measures was an incident on November 26, during which a female National Guard soldier was killed, and another soldier was wounded.
In November, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported 50 Ukrainians (45 men and 5 women) from the country. Most of the men were immediately sent to a detention center and drafted into the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In addition, on January 22, the US Department of Homeland Security launched a large-scale special operation in the state of Maine called Catch of the Day. Officially, its goal is to identify and detain foreigners with criminal records.
