A new survey shows nearly half of Americans support deporting illegal migrants, even if it involves military “encampments,” as debates over immigration policies intensify.
A recent survey by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), funded by the Open Society network, indicates that 47% of Americans support using military “encampments” to round up and deport illegal migrants. The survey, conducted between August and September, highlights the deepening divide over how to address illegal immigration in the United States.
The survey’s question on military encampments—“How much do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose the following? … Rounding up and deporting immigrants who are in the country illegally, even if it takes setting up encampments guarded by the U.S. military”—has sparked criticism from immigration policy experts. Jon Feere, a former border enforcement official now with the Center for Immigration Studies, labeled the poll as a “push poll,” designed to influence the outcome through its phrasing. “If you ask the questions different ways, the numbers will fluctuate a little bit based on the word choice,” Feere told Breitbart News, while adding, “People are desperate to see our immigration laws enforced, so no matter how a pollster words it, they’re going to find a huge percentage of people want our immigration laws to be implemented by any means necessary.”
The PRRI poll found that 22% of respondents “strongly” favor the use of military-backed encampments, while 50% oppose such measures, including 22% who strongly oppose them. However, results from other surveys have suggested higher levels of support for deportation policies when questions are phrased differently.
A YouGov survey from mid-October reported that 54% of respondents supported “arresting and deporting millions of illegal* immigrants,” with 38% strongly in favor of this approach. By comparison, only 34% opposed such actions. Similarly, a Fox News poll, conducted between October 11-14, revealed that 67% of registered voters support deporting illegal migrants back to their home countries.
This growing support aligns with findings from several other polling organizations, including Ipsos, Marist, and Harvard-Harris. These polls indicate that a significant portion of the American public favors stricter immigration enforcement, challenging narratives from pro-migration advocates who argue that Americans largely oppose such measures.
Jon Feere emphasized that most polls commissioned on immigration tend to reflect the interests of their sponsors, often tailoring questions to produce desired outcomes. “They’ve avoided the sanctuary question because they can’t come up with a way to tinker with the wording and the public responses are clear—high opposition to sanctuary jurisdictions,” Feere noted, referencing past polling that showed strong disapproval of sanctuary policies, such as a 2015 poll by UC Berkeley where 74% of Californians opposed such policies.
In contrast to the PRRI survey, a September poll by YouGov asked more detailed questions about immigration enforcement, revealing broader support for the use of active-duty troops to assist with border arrests, with 58% in favor. The poll also found that 79% supported “using the Alien Enemies Act to deport immigrant gang members, drug dealers, and cartel members.”
Despite these findings, pro-migration groups continue to argue against aggressive enforcement measures. As the 2024 presidential election approaches, the debate over deportations has become a key issue. A CBS News analysis on October 17 highlighted the potential costs of former President Donald Trump’s plan to deport millions of illegal migrants, suggesting it could cost “hundreds of billions.” Opponents of mass deportations argue that such efforts could strain government resources and disrupt communities.
Supporters of stricter immigration laws, however, contend that many migrants would voluntarily return to their home countries, and state and local enforcement could further aid in deportation efforts. They also argue that reducing the number of illegal migrants could free up jobs and housing for American citizens, potentially lowering welfare expenditures for unemployed or low-income households.
As political and public debates over immigration policies continue, polls like those conducted by PRRI, YouGov, and others offer a glimpse into the shifting sentiments of the American public on how best to address the ongoing challenges at the U.S. border.
