A new poll from The Economist and YouGov on Tuesday shows a 15 percent uptick in Americans saying immigrants make the country “better off.” In January 2025, 31 percent of Americans felt that sentiment, the pollster notes.
Why It Matters
A shifting public stance toward immigration could influence congressional races and policy strategies ahead of the midterm elections, as Republicans weigh the potential costs of hard-line enforcement—while Democrats seek to mobilize voters against mass deportation efforts, arguing the Trump administration’s tactics have punished the U.S. economy while triggering a humanitarian crisis.
The trend also intersects with approval of President Donald Trump’s handling of immigration, which registered net-negative ratings in recent national polling.
What To Know
According to the poll, 46 percent say immigrants make the country “Better off,” 20 percent say “Does not make much difference,” 24 percent say “Worse off” and 11 percent responded “Not sure.”
The poll also finds that 50 percent of respondents think Trump’s approach to immigration is “too harsh,” 36 percent say “about right,” 8 percent say “Too soft” and 7 percent answered “Not sure.”
The poll surveyed 1,672 U.S. adults from January 30 to February 2 and has a margin of error of 3.2 percent.
In the January 2025 poll, 31 percent said immigrants make the country “Better off,” 21 percent said “Does not make much difference,” 34 percent believed “Worse off” and 14 percent responded “Not sure.”
The polling data comes after two deadly shootings of U.S. citizens by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis and national backlash and protests tied to the Trump’s administration’s enforcement strategies.
What People Are Saying
Columbia University professor Robert Y. Shapiro, to Newsweek on Tuesday night when asked if Trump should take the polling into consideration: “Yes, what has happened in Minnesota, and with ICE violently taking into custody immigrants there and elsewhere who have been working and contributing positively to their communities, has made the public take note of their work and contributions. They see how the country is better off for it. We saw this more positive view of immigrants emerging in earlier polls after Trump was elected and started aggressively going after immigrants beyond those who were criminals.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, on X Tuesday: “A nation without borders is no nation at all. President Trump has delivered the most secure southern border in U.S. history. Now it is our mission to make sure it stays that way for the long run. Thank you, to the brave men and women of DHS law enforcement who are on the front lines. You make America proud!”
House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, on X last month: “The Department of Homeland Security is supposed to keep the American people safe. Not brutalize or kill them. Why is that so difficult for Republicans in Congress to understand?”
What Happens Next
Public sentiment on immigration will continue being tracked and provide benchmarks for parties’ midterm strategies, especially on balancing border security with immigration enforcement in U.S. neighborhoods.
