Trump’s approval on immigration remains steady

August 2, 2026

In the wake of three deaths linked to ICE encounters in the span of a week, public opinion on immigration remains largely unchanged. Many Americans continue to worry about prices and a majority are changing the way they shop for food as a result.

Thirty-nine percent of adults approve of Trump’s handling of immigration, in line with earlier AP-NORC polls this year but lower than at the start of his second term in office.

Trump’s approval numbers on immigration have fallen among both Democrats and Republicans since he returned to office. Eighty-one percent of Republicans and 7% of Democrats approve of Trump’s handling of immigration, down from 88% and 18%, respectively, in an AP-NORC Poll conducted in March 2025.

Fifty-five percent of adults say Trump has gone too far in sending federal immigration agents into U.S. cities, down slightly from 62% when AP-NORC last asked the question in February 2026. About half say he has gone too far when it comes to deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally and restricting legal immigration, similar to findings from February.

A majority also feel Trump has gone too far in using traffic stops to find and arrest immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.

Views among Republicans and Democrats are similar to those expressed in February 2026. Independents, however, are less likely to say Trump has gone too far in sending immigration agents into U.S. cities, restricting legal immigration, or deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. They are also more likely to say Trump has not gone far enough in sending immigration agents into U.S. cities.

Forty-nine percent of adults disapprove of the way ICE is enforcing immigration laws while 29% approve. Another 21% say they neither approve nor disapprove or do not know enough to say.

Democrats are more likely to disapprove of ICE (86%) than Republicans are to approve (64%). Independents are more divided: 41% disapprove, 18% approve, and 27% neither approve nor disapprove.

Beyond immigration, many Americans express economic concerns. Forty-one percent of adults are extremely or very concerned about being able to afford groceries in the next few months, while 39% say the same about gas, 35% about electricity, and 28% about their rent or mortgage.

Most adults say their household has made recent changes to how they buy groceries because of higher prices. At least 6 in 10 say they have started buying generic or store brands, stopped buying certain grocery items, or cut down on eating out in order to pay for necessities. About half of adults have changed where they shop for groceries.