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President Donald Trump's net approval on handling immigration has fallen drastically in the space of a few weeks, according to polls.
An April Echelon Insights survey of 1,014 likely voters found that 54 percent approve of Trump's actions on immigration, with 44 percent disapproving, giving the president a net score of plus 10 points.
A previous Echelon Insights poll of 1,007 likely voters, conducted March 10-13, found that Trump had a net approval score of plus 18 points (57 percent approve to 39 percent disapprove).
The April survey was conducted April 10-14, and the results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, as do the March results.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Trump vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation program in U.S. history during his 2024 campaign. His approval ratings are taking a hit as his administration faces legal scrutiny and criticism for flying out migrants to a notorious prison in El Salvador without due process.
This includes Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom the Trump administration admits was wrongly deported to El Salvador after living in Maryland but is accused by the White House of being a member of the banned MS-13 gang. Garcia's attorneys say there is no evidence he was in MS-13.
What To Know
April's Echelon Insights survey shows that a majority (54 percent) of voters still support Trump's hardline approach to immigration, even though his net approval rating on the issue has dropped 8 points since March.
The poll also found that 70 percent of respondents said they are either somewhat or very concerned about immigration, tied for first place with Trump's tariff plans.
However, as noted by Peter Hamby, contributing writer for Puck News, which partners with Echelon Insights for its monthly polling, voters are becoming less focused on immigration since Trump reentered office on January 20.
In February's survey, immigration was ranked the second-most important issue facing the country, after the cost of living.
In April's poll, immigration placed fourth on the list of main concerns (12 percent), behind the cost of living (23 percent), jobs and the economy (15 percent) and political corruption (13 percent). Immigration ranked the co-fourth-most pressing issue (10 percent) in March's survey, along with the state of democracy.
In his analysis of April's poll results, Hamby said a majority of voters "aren't reading SCOTUSblog or following the legal intricacies of the Garcia case" and therefore still largely support Trump's immigration plans.
One issue of concern for Trump is that his net approval rating on the economy—often cited as his strongest area and a key reason for his 2024 victory—has dipped 18 points since January.
A majority of voters now disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy (52 percent), compared to 44 percent who approve. In January, 50 percent of voters approved of how the president was dealing with the economy, with 40 percent disapproving.
The fall in approval arrives as Trump sparks fears of a recession and rising costs of goods as a result of his so-called "reciprocal" tariffs.
In comparison, Trump's net approval score on immigration has fallen 5 points between January and April.
Trump's overall job approval among voters has also fallen. April's Echelon Insights survey shows a majority (51 percent) now disapprove of his job as president, compared to 47 percent who approve.
Trump had a plus 1 net approval score in March (49 percent approve to 48 percent disprove) and a plus 8 net score in January (51 percent to 43).
What People Are Saying
Peter Hamby wrote for Puck: "Immigration is the only remaining issue where Trump has credibility with the American voter. Those voters probably aren't reading SCOTUSblog or following the legal intricacies of the Garcia case, but Trump knows that the public generally has his back on questions of who gets to be in the United States and who doesn't.
"The problem for Trump is that since the election, immigration has fallen down the voting public's list of concerns, while anxieties about the economy and prices have only grown louder, with chatter about a possible recession becoming routine. The numbers are showing that while Trump might be trying to change the subject—to illegal immigrants or Harvard or NPR—economically anxious voters aren't interested in the sideshow."
Pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson, a founding partner at Echelon, told Puck: "Donald Trump's core strength in the polls over the last decade has been his strength on the economy. The fact that his job approval has softened on this is a potential red flag. If you look at Trump voters, the intensity of their approval for Trump's economic moves is much lower than for immigration. A significant number of Trump's own supporters are showing some hesitance around his latest moves on tariffs."
What Happens Next
Trump officials said they will continue to push back against a U.S. Supreme Court ruling ordering the administration to "facilitate" Garcia's release and return. El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said he will not return Garcia to the U.S.
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, and Florida ... Read more