In a recent poll conducted by YouGov, a significant majority of American registered voters have expressed support for mass deportations of illegal immigrants, reflecting a growing shift in public opinion against migration.

The survey, conducted from Aug. 25-27, found that 56% of voters favor a policy of "arresting and deporting thousands of illegal immigrants," while 35% are opposed, and this evolving stance on migration is shaping the political landscape, notably influencing the presidential campaigns of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, as Breitbart reports.

The YouGov poll, which surveyed 1,555 adults, revealed that among those with strong opinions, 37% strongly favor deportations, while 21% are strongly opposed. These findings align with other recent polls that show a majority of Americans now support large-scale deportations.

Migration Opposition Grows Among Democrats

A particularly striking aspect of this trend is the shift in opinion among Democratic voters, who have increasingly moved from a position of acceptance to rejection of migration policies during President Joe Biden's tenure.

Under the Biden administration, the U.S. population has grown by approximately 10 million people through various migration routes, a development that has spurred rising public opposition.

This shift in public sentiment has notably benefited Trump's reelection campaign. Trump, who has consistently advocated for stricter immigration policies, is seeing renewed support as more voters express concerns over the impact of migration on the nation's resources.

Kamala Harris Faces Pressure Over Migration Stance

Meanwhile, Harris has maintained a stance in line with the migration policies favored by West Coast Democratic donors, choosing not to oppose them. This decision comes amid growing pressure within the Democratic Party, where leaders are pushing for continued support of high levels of migration.

Polling data highlights the changing views among Democrats. An interactive feature on the YouGov website shows that agreement with the statement "Immigrants are a drain on national resources" has increased from 30% in June 2020 to 43% in December 2023.

In contrast, disagreement with this statement dropped from 46% to 32% over the same period, indicating a significant 26-point shift in national opinion.

Democrats' Views on Migration Evolve

The shift in opinion is even more pronounced within the Democratic Party. Support for migration among Democrats has declined sharply, with disagreement dropping from 70% to 47%, a decrease of 23 points.

Meanwhile, agreement with the idea that immigrants are a drain on resources has risen from 13% to 31%, with the proportion of neutral respondents also increasing from 17% to 22%.

This 40% swing in opinion among Democrats from June 2020 to December 2023 highlights the growing divide within the party on the issue of migration. Despite this, Democratic leaders, including former President Barack Obama, continue to emphasize the historical challenge of building a diverse democracy.

"No nation, no society has ever tried to build a democracy as big and as diverse as ours before, one that includes people that, over decades, have come from every corner of the globe ... The rest of the world is watching to see if we can actually pull this off," Obama said during a speech at the Democratic Party's national convention.

Republican Attitudes Remain Steady

While Democratic views have shifted considerably, Republican attitudes towards migration have remained relatively stable since June 2020.

The share of Republicans who disagree with the statement that immigrants are a drain on resources has stayed around 18.5%, while those who agree have risen from 56% to 65%. Additionally, neutral opinions among Republicans have trended towards agreement with this statement.

Additional YouGov polling further reflects the growing skepticism about migration among Americans. In a June 9-11 poll of 1,595 U.S. citizens, 38% said that immigration makes the country worse off, while 28% believed it makes the country better off. This 10-point gap underscores the 30-point shift against migration since President Biden took office.

Immigration Ranks High As Key Issue

The August YouGov poll also highlighted the importance of immigration as an issue for voters. Among registered voters, immigration was ranked as the most important issue by 15%, making it the second most important issue overall behind "inflation/prices," which was prioritized by 23% of respondents.

Notably, immigration was the top issue for 15% of men and 11% of women, with 11% of independents also ranking it as their primary concern.

The combination of these factors illustrates a significant shift in public opinion on migration and its impact on the upcoming elections.

As Democrats grapple with changing views within their party, Republicans appear to be solidifying their stance, with both sides preparing for the issue of immigration to play a pivotal role in the 2024 presidential race.