A new national survey shows that a majority of Americans oppose deporting migrants without criminal convictions to El Salvador without the opportunity to challenge their removal in court. The responses follow the Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act to expedite deportations, an initiative that has been quickly challenged in the courts.
According to a YouGov poll, 60% of Americans said they do not support "deporting immigrants without criminal convictions to El Salvador to be imprisoned without letting them challenge the deportation in court." Of those, 46% expressed strong opposition to the practice. In contrast, only 26% supported it, while 13% were unsure.
The survey also found that 51% of respondents oppose the idea of deporting international students who participated in pro-Palestinian campus protests. This follows a statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that at least 300 student visas had been revoked as part of the administration's response to protests against Israel, while many others could be under consideration in the future.
While immigration enforcement remains a strong point of approval for President Trump among his base, public opinion on deportation policies appears to be mixed, as several recent surveys reflect. A Pew Research Center poll conducted published on March 26 found that 32% of Americans support deporting all undocumented immigrants, while 51% support deporting some under certain conditions and only 16% opposed deportations altogether.
The same poll revealed that support for deportation was highest for those convicted of violent crimes (97%), while just 14% favored deporting undocumented parents of U.S. citizen children. The public also showed reservations about where immigration arrests should occur, with majorities opposing arrests at schools, hospitals, and places of worship.
These attitudes emerge against the backdrop of broader economic discontent. A CBS News poll published on Monday found that nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the administration is focusing too much on tariffs and not enough on reducing prices.
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