Americans'views on immigrationtook a massive positive swing this year amidPresident Donald Trump'songoing crackdown, according to new Gallup polling. The share of Americans who thought immigration should decrease – 55% – reached a 5-year high point in 2024. This year, it has dropped to 30%, and positive views of immigration have hit a record high of 79%, according topoll resultsreleased July 11. The poll surveyed 1,402 Americans between June 2 and 26. The Trump administration ramped up its promise tocarry out widespread deportationsin June, sending outmasked immigration agents to raidrestaurants, farms and hardware stores and touching off widespread protests.He has unveiled a new"Alligator Alcatraz" detention facility for migrants in the Florida Everglades. The administration hasfaced legal challengesat every turn, bringing it several times to thebrink of clashes with judgeswho have imposed barriers on the scale and tactics of the crackdown. During former PresidentJoe Biden's administration, Americans'views on immigration took a dipamid asurgeof migration andreports of disarrayon the southern border. But this year, even among Republicans, views on immigration have grown significantly rosier – 64% of Republicans now believe immigration is a good thing, a 25-point jump from June of 2024. The fraction of Republicans who think immigration should decrease has fallen from 88% to 48% in that time span. Trump's immigration policies are broadly unpopular, with just 35% disapproving of his handling of the issue, according to the poll. The Trump administration faced heavy pushback over its immigration policies in March when itdeported hundreds of mento a brutal prison in El Salvador – even though most were Venezuelan. It was forced to returnKilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man from El Salvador who a judge ordered could remain in the U.S., amid an ongoing legal battle. TheSupreme Court has since giventhe Trump administration the green light to deport people to countries from which they do not originate. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Americans' views on immigration hit a high point amid Trump crackdown
