President Trump is facing declining public support on immigration — his signature issue — even though his base remains firmly behind him, according to a new CBS News/YouGov poll.
The survey shows 44% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of immigration, while 56% disapprove. That marks a significant drop from March, when he held a 54% approval rating and 46% disapproval. In June, the numbers were evenly split at 50%.
Immigration and border security were central to the 2024 campaign, and Trump moved swiftly to crack down at the border after his re-election.
Last month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported just 9,306 migrant encounters at the southwest border — a steep decline from the 301,981 recorded in December 2023 under the Biden administration.
While a strong majority (64%) of respondents acknowledged that Trump’s policies led to a sharp drop in illegal crossings, many expressed concerns about his aggressive deportation tactics. A majority — 54% — said his approach is “too tough,” while 18% felt it’s “not tough enough” and 29% said it’s “about right.”
Trump is also facing criticism over the perception that his administration is targeting non-violent individuals for deportation. According to the poll, 56% believe he is prioritizing the removal of those who are not dangerous criminals, while 44% believe his focus is on deporting serious offenders.
Despite the drop in approval, immigration remains the most important issue for voters in judging Trump’s performance — surpassing inflation (56%), the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (56%), and even the Jeffrey Epstein case (36%).
Trump has reportedly signaled a potential shift in policy, with plans to ease the impact of deportations on industries like agriculture and the service sector, possibly by fast-tracking visas for foreign workers.
Although public opinion on immigration has softened, Trump continues to enjoy strong support from Republicans, with 89% approving of his presidency overall.
The CBS News/YouGov poll surveyed 2,343 U.S. adults between July 16 and 18, with a margin of error of ±2.5 percentage points.
