Immigration, a defining pillar of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and a topic on which he previously enjoyed strong public support, is now emerging as a point of vulnerability. Recent polling data reveals a noticeable dip in Trump’s approval ratings on immigration, signaling possible dissatisfaction with his approach among voters and highlighting evolving public attitudes.
A new Morning Consult survey, conducted from May 9 to 11 among 2,221 registered voters, indicates that Trump’s approval on immigration has dropped to the lowest level since he began his second term. According to the poll, 51 percent of respondents approved of his immigration stance, while 44 percent expressed disapproval. Notably, enthusiasm for mass deportations as a top policy priority has waned, with only 35 percent in favor.
This shift comes as additional surveys reveal growing disapproval of Trump’s hardline immigration policies, which include widespread deportations and a reduction in legal immigration opportunities. A Fox News poll conducted in April found Trump with a negative approval rating on immigration for the first time: 47 percent approved of his performance, while 48 percent disapproved. However, Trump still received better marks for his handling of the border, where 55 percent expressed approval.
Similarly, the most recent AP-NORC poll, carried out between May 1 and 5 among 1,175 adults, reported that 49 percent approved of Trump’s immigration policies, while 51 percent disapproved. This showed a slight improvement from April, when the approval rating stood at 46 percent and disapproval at 53 percent.
Another survey, conducted in April by Atlas Intel, showed a net approval rating of minus 6 points for Trump on immigration. In that poll, 52 percent rated his performance as “terrible” or “very poor,” compared to 46 percent who said it was “excellent” or “good.” This marked a notable drop from March, when 51 percent viewed Trump’s immigration policies positively and only 43 percent negatively.
This decline in approval is occurring against a backdrop of increased legal scrutiny and mounting criticism over Trump’s deportation agenda. One case drawing particular attention is that of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported from Maryland. The Department of Justice referred to his removal as an “administrative error.” Although Trump’s administration identified Garcia as a member of MS-13, a gang now classified as a terrorist organization, Garcia’s legal team and family deny any such affiliation.
Trump’s current immigration plan calls for the deportation of millions of undocumented individuals through expanded operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and involvement of the National Guard. His strategy involves reviving and intensifying first-term policies, constructing large detention centers, and accelerating deportations by limiting judicial review.
What stands out about the current enforcement is that it targets undocumented immigrants without criminal records. During Trump’s first 50 days back in office, ICE arrested over 32,000 people, nearly half of whom had no prior criminal record. A report by El País also revealed that by mid-February 2025, over 40 percent of deportees had no criminal background.
Public support for deportation of non-criminal undocumented immigrants appears weak. A Pew Research Center survey found that while a slim majority—51 percent—of Americans support the deportation of at least some undocumented individuals, only around one-third support mass deportation. Notably, there is overwhelming support for removing violent criminals, but approval sharply declines when it comes to deporting individuals married to U.S. citizens or those brought to the country as children.
Trump’s declining approval on immigration mirrors broader polling trends showing a general downturn in public support since the start of his second term, even though he entered it with record-high approval levels. According to Morning Consult, Trump’s overall approval rating dropped one point since April to 45 percent, while 52 percent disapproved of his performance.
Echelon Insights also documented a one-point drop in Trump’s approval between April and May, falling to 46 percent, with disapproval climbing to 52 percent. Similarly, Big Data Poll found that Trump’s approval now stands at 48 percent, down from 56 percent in January. Meanwhile, disapproval has risen to 47 percent, compared to just 37 percent in January.
Nonetheless, some recent surveys indicate a slight rebound in Trump’s approval. Newsweek’s approval tracker currently shows Trump at 46 percent approval with 50 percent disapproval. This marks a marginal improvement over the previous week, when he had a 45 percent approval rating and disapproval was firmly in the 50s.
A compilation of various polls paints a mixed picture:
Rasmussen (May 12): 52% approve, 46% disapprove
Morning Consult (May 9-11): 46% approve, 52% disapprove
Echelon Insights (May 8-12): 46% approve, 52% disapprove
YouGov (May 6-8): 42% approve, 50% disapprove
Quantus (May 5-7): 48% approve, 48% disapprove
Big Data Poll (May 3-5): 48% approve, 47% disapprove
YouGov/Economist (May 2-5): 42% approve, 52% disapprove
AP-NORC (May 1-5): 41% approve, 57% disapprove
RMG Research (April 30-May 8): 49% approve, 49% disapprove
TIPP Insights (April 30-May 2): 42% approve, 47% disapprove
While these polls show Trump’s approval rating holding relatively steady, they also reveal a subtle but consistent uptick in disapproval. For instance, the YouGov poll conducted from May 6 to 8 among 1,143 adults showed a 42 percent approval rate—unchanged from previous polling—while disapproval rose by 2 points to 50 percent. A similar pattern was seen in the Quantus Insights poll, conducted between May 5 and 7.
Comparing Trump’s current ratings with those from his first term provides additional perspective. On May 13, 2017, RealClearPolitics recorded Trump’s approval at 42 percent and disapproval at 53 percent, a net rating of minus 11 points. This suggests Trump is marginally less popular now than he was at the same point during his first term.
In comparison to Joe Biden, Trump’s current approval rating also falls short. On May 13, 2021, Biden enjoyed a 54 percent approval rating, with 42 percent disapproving, according to RealClearPolitics.
Even though Trump began his second term with his highest approval rating to date, Gallup’s initial poll for the term—conducted between January 21 and 27—showed him as the least popular incoming president since 1953, and the only one to start with an approval rating below 50 percent. Gallup noted that Biden started his presidency with a 57 percent approval rating.
Historical data from Gallup, analyzed by The American Presidency Project, underscores Trump’s low standing compared to previous presidents at the 100-day mark. Dwight Eisenhower held a 73 percent approval rating at that point. Other presidents also fared better: John F. Kennedy had 83 percent, Richard Nixon 62 percent, Jimmy Carter 63 percent, Ronald Reagan 68 percent, George H.W. Bush 56 percent, Bill Clinton 55 percent, George W. Bush 62 percent, and Barack Obama 65 percent.
Looking ahead, Trump’s approval ratings may fluctuate depending on several critical developments, such as the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war, changing dynamics in international trade, and increasing economic uncertainty linked to potential recession fears.