{"id":25510,"date":"2026-08-02T20:35:45","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T15:35:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=25510"},"modified":"2026-08-02T20:35:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T15:35:45","slug":"republicans-rate-trump-higher-on-immigration-than-on-the-economy-or-iran-ap-norc-poll-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=25510","title":{"rendered":"Republicans rate Trump higher on immigration than on the economy or Iran, AP-NORC poll finds"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"prism-article-body\">\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao MvWXB TjIXL aGjvy ebVHC \"><span class=\"oyrPY qlwaB AGxeB  \">WASHINGTON &#8212; <\/span>Immigration remains a stronger issue for President Donald Trump than the economy or Iran, according to a new AP-NORC poll, even after <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/border-security-ice-immigration-markwayne-mullin-trump-1c5010c3a2cf043aa9824937ef44cff2\">three people were killed<\/a> in encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the span of under a week in July. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Trump is not getting a glowing endorsement on his immigration approach from Americans overall, the new survey from <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnorc.org\/projects\/trumps-approval-on-immigration-remains-steady\/\">The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research<\/a> found. Only 39% of U.S. adults approve of his performance on immigration, a decline from 49% at the beginning of his second term.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Despite that, about 8 in 10 Republicans continue to approve of how Trump is handling immigration. That\u2019s <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/projects\/polling-tracker\/\">a slight decline<\/a> from the beginning of Trump\u2019s second term, when about 9 in 10 Republicans approved, but his support on the issue within his base has been mostly stable since last summer despite a chaotic year of immigration enforcement actions. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Republicans are also more likely to approve of how Trump is handling immigration than the economy or Iran. In just the past month, Republican approval of Trump&#8217;s handling of Iran <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-approval-iran-war-poll-republicans-election-55e9c80afec521d87f131393a59674c0\">dropped slightly in AP-NORC polling<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The poll found that about half of U.S. adults say Trump has \u201cgone too far\u201d on deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. That number has also remained steady for over a year, despite <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/minneapolis-immigration-crackdown-protests-96888fbbf2b5939aa7abdc0380773e46\">multiple immigration crackdowns<\/a> that deployed <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ap.org\/news-highlights\/spotlights\/2025\/in-chicago-an-immense-show-of-force-signals-a-sharp-escalation-in-white-house-immigration-crackdown\/\">federal law enforcement<\/a> to large cities and <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/immigration-enforcement-deaths-eight-houston-35b6d6f9b9715edd064009e195547b2b\">at least 10 deaths<\/a> involving encounters with immigration officers since the mass deportation campaign began. Republicans, however, are much less likely to say Trump has overstepped in his immigration enforcement actions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Overall, Trump\u2019s popularity has fallen since he took office last year, but the findings highlight the relatively muted impact of the past year\u2019s aggressive immigration enforcement on his public standing. That\u2019s a contrast with views of his handling of Iran, where he\u2019s seen more recent <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-approval-iran-war-poll-republicans-election-55e9c80afec521d87f131393a59674c0\">signs of slippage<\/a>, even among his own supporters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Americans remain divided on whether Trump has overstepped on immigration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">About half of U.S. adults say Trump has \u201cgone too far\u201d when it comes to restricting legal immigration, in line with the last time the question was asked in February. Roughly half \u2014 47% \u2014 say Trump has exceeded his authority when it comes to deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. In each case, about 3 in 10 say Trump\u2019s actions have been \u201cabout right,\u201d and closer to 2 in 10 say he hasn\u2019t gone far enough.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Few Republicans \u2013 about 2 in 10 or fewer \u2013 say he\u2019s \u201cgone too far\u201d on deporting immigrants in the country illegally or restricting legal immigration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Most Americans, however, say he\u2019s gone too far when it comes to using traffic stops to find and arrest immigrants living in the U.S. illegally \u2014 a practice that was at the center of two recent ICE shootings in Maine \u2014 and when it comes to sending federal immigration agents into U.S. cities. Republicans were also less likely to see these as oversteps.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">James Leatherman, a 68-year-old Republican from San Antonio, is overall supportive of Trump\u2019s handling of the presidency and backs him on immigration in particular.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cYou cannot come in here illegally \u2014 you\u2019re breaking the law,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">More Americans disapprove than approve of the way ICE is enforcing immigration laws. About half of Americans \u201cstrongly&#8221; or \u201csomewhat&#8221; disapprove of the agency&#8217;s approach, while roughly 3 in 10 \u201cstrongly&#8221; or \u201csomewhat&#8221; approve. There&#8217;s a wide partisan split, though: About 6 in 10 Republicans approve of ICE\u2019s approach, compared with about 2 in 10 independents and just 4% of Democrats.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Eric Coursen, 76, an independent from Chincoteague, Virginia, agrees with the president that there were issues with the immigration system. He said doesn\u2019t believe in open borders \u2014 but he\u2019s deeply opposed to how the administration has been enforcing immigration law.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cIt\u2019s like taking some bread when you\u2019re hungry and you take it, you\u2019re going to shoot that person rather than just, you know, get them for theft?\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s just overkill.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">About 3 in 10 U.S. adults, 32%, approve of how Trump is handling the economy. That\u2019s down from 40% at the start of his second term, and marks a shift from his first presidential term when the economy was a stronger issue for Trump.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">During Trump\u2019s first term, his lowest approval on the economy was 40% in December 2017. Now, his rating is well below that. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Roughly 7 in 10 Republicans \u2013 69% \u2013 approve of how Trump is handling the economy. That\u2019s roughly in line with the share who approve of how he\u2019s handing the presidency, but it\u2019s slightly below the 78% who approved early in Trump\u2019s second term. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Leatherman, despite his support for Trump, said he&#8217;s feeling the pinch of higher prices in his budget. \u201cI almost have to go to the bank to get a loan before I go grocery shopping,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">About 7 in 10 U.S. adults describe the nation\u2019s economy as \u201cvery\u201d or \u201csomewhat\u201d poor, in line with April. Republicans are more optimistic, with about 6 in 10 saying that the U.S. economy is doing well, compared with about 2 in 10 independents and roughly 1 in 10 Democrats. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Healthcare has never been a strong issue for Trump. Unlike with immigration and the economy, a clear majority of U.S. adults has disapproved of Trump\u2019s performance on healthcare across both presidential terms. That hasn\u2019t changed in the new poll, which found that only about 3 in 10 Americans approve of how Trump is handling healthcare, in line with when the question was last asked in December.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">He\u2019s seen a rebound on the issue among his own supporters since late last year, though. Roughly 71% of Republicans now approve, compared with 59% in the December poll. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">That shift comes as Democrats kicked off 100 days until the midterm elections last week, with leaders saying they\u2019ll <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/house-midterms-election-affordability-trump-d1d9d0cd0c3ed3b53a7f812a6bd2e7a6\">focus on healthcare cuts<\/a>, in addition to the cost of living and the war in Iran. Democrats and independents continue to overwhelmingly disapprove of Trump\u2019s handling of healthcare.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">___<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC eTIW sUzSN \">The AP-NORC poll of 1,165 adults was conducted July 23-27 using a sample drawn from NORC\u2019s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 6.0 for Republicans overall and plus or minus 5.4 for Democrats overall.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WASHINGTON &#8212; Immigration remains a stronger issue for President Donald Trump than the economy or Iran, according to a new AP-NORC poll, even after three people were killed in encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the span of under a week in July. Trump is not getting a glowing endorsement on his immigration approach&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/f37ab4e2-b857-4cdd-8849-aa7f1d795b5e\/wirestory_f14da4276e2e0d5ec9b79f0d48e22788_16x9.jpg?w=1600","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25510","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25510"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25510\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}