A recent poll has revealed that a significant portion of Americans view immigration as the most critical issue for President-elect Donald Trump to address, with many believing that he will implement mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. However, respondents were divided on the specifics of Trump's immigration plans.
The two-day poll, conducted following Trump's election victory, found that 25 per cent of participants considered immigration to be Trump's top priority for his first 100 days in office, far surpassing other issues. By comparison, 14 per cent said income inequality should be his main focus, 12 per cent pointed to taxes, while smaller groups highlighted healthcare, crime, jobs, and the environment.
The survey also found that 82 per cent of respondents thought it likely that Trump would push for mass deportations, a sentiment shared across party lines. While 82 per cent of Democrats and 40 per cent of independents expressed concern over the potential policy, nearly 90 per cent of Republicans did not feel similarly worried.
Trump ran on a platform that included a hardline stance on immigration, pledging to deport record numbers of immigrants, with some estimates suggesting up to 1 million deportations annually. Throughout his campaign, Trump frequently highlighted crimes allegedly committed by undocumented immigrants, although research shows that immigrants do not commit crimes at higher rates than native-born Americans.
As he prepares for his second term, Trump’s supporters—many of whom may join his administration—expect him to push for mass deportations with the help of federal agencies, Republican-led states, and even diplomatic pressure. However, critics warn that such an approach would be costly, divisive, and inhumane.
In an interview on November 7, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to deportations, stating that the policy would move forward regardless of its financial cost. "It's not a question of a price tag," Trump said. "We have no choice."
The poll also revealed deep divisions on the potential methods for deportations, particularly whether detention camps would be used. While 58 per cent of Republicans supported the idea of arresting and detaining immigrants while they await deportation hearings, only 15 per cent of Democrats agreed with this approach. Roughly 75 per cent of Democrats opposed the use of such camps, as did 31 per cent of Republicans.
Trump plans to use a 1798 wartime statute, the Alien Enemies Act, to expedite deportations, specifically targeting individuals suspected of gang affiliation. This move is expected to face legal challenges. The law has been used historically during wartime, including the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
The poll, conducted online, surveyed 1,471 adults nationwide with a margin of error of 3 percentage points for the general sample and 5 percentage points for both Republicans and Democrats.
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