Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation operation in history if reelected, and according to a new survey, a majority of Americans would support that effort.
An Axios Vibes survey by The Harris Poll found 51 percent of the general public support mass deportations amid record illegal border crossings.
By political affiliation, 68 percent of Republicans support mass deportations, as do 46 percent of independents, and 42 percent of Democrats.
When age groups are considered, mass deportations are increasingly favored the older Americans get, with the lowest support among Gen Z at 35 percent, followed by Millennials at 48 percent, Gen X at 53 percent, and Boomer-plus at 60 percent.
President Biden is keenly aware the crisis threatens his re-election. He's sought to flip the script by accusing Trump of sabotaging Congress' most conservative bipartisan immigration bill in decades.
But when it comes to blame, Biden so far has failed to shift the narrative: 32% of respondents say his administration is "most responsible" for the crisis, outranking any other political or structural factor.
Axios Vibe Check: Amid a record number of border crossings, nearly two-thirds of Americans said illegal immigration is a real crisis, not a politically driven media narrative.
What they're saying: "I was surprised at the public support for large-scale deportations," said Mark Penn, chairman of The Harris Poll and a former pollster for President Clinton.
"I think they're just sending a message to politicians: 'Get this under control,' " he said, calling it a warning to Biden that "efforts to shift responsibility for the issue to Trump are not going to work." (Axios)
When asked to name their top concern with illegal immigration, an increase in crime, violence, and drugs was commonly cited (21 percent), as was the burden on taxpayers (18 percent), and national security and terrorism risks (17 percent).
As some conservative commentators noted, however, a majority opinion and political will to carry out mass deportations are very different concepts.
This is absurd but people will believe mass deportation can happen because they still don’t understand that “majority” and “power” are two very different things. Often, they have NOTHING to do with each other. Let me explain: https://t.co/nei8p6r7Eu
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) April 25, 2024
The people in POWER want the border open. An open border has been a central part of the communist plan to burn this country down for about 80 years. They’ve written about it. They’ve dreamt about it.
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) April 25, 2024
An endless flood of illegals (along with the debt) is the only guaranteed way for them to sink a nation as big and powerful as America. They NEED the border open. Notice how they still haven’t closed it? It might easily cost them the White House, and they haven’t changed a thing.
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) April 25, 2024
Power is what matters. So use the power you have. A red state coalition taking away the federal government’s immigration role is the ONLY path forward. Trump or no Trump. This happens or we probably can’t save this place.
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) April 25, 2024
That’s all.