---
title: "Americans’ Views of Deportations"
description: "Most say arrests of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally should be allowed at protests or in homes, but not at places of worship or schools."
date: "2025-03-26"
authors:
  - name: "Luis Noé-Bustamante"
    job_title: "Research Associate"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/luis-noe-bustamante/"
  - name: "Jens Manuel Krogstad"
    job_title: "Former Senior Writer and Editor"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/jens-manuel-krogstad/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/03/26/americans-views-of-deportations/"
categories:
  - "Border Security & Enforcement"
  - "Immigration & Migration"
  - "Immigration Attitudes"
  - "Partisanship & Issues"
  - "Political Issues"
  - "Unauthorized Immigration"
---

# Americans’ Views of Deportations

## Table of Contents
1. [Americans’ Views of Deportations](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/03/26/americans-views-of-deportations/markdown)
2. [1. Views on deportations and arrests of immigrants in the U.S. illegally](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/03/26/views-on-deportations-and-arrests-of-immigrants-in-the-u-s-illegally/markdown)
3. [2. Personal impacts of deportations and arrests on U.S. adults   ](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/03/26/personal-impacts-of-deportations-and-arrests-on-u-s-adults/markdown)
4. [Acknowledgments](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/03/26/views-of-deportations-acknowledgments/markdown)
5. [Methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/03/26/views-of-deportations-methodology/markdown)

## *Most say arrests of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally should be allowed at protests or in homes, but not at places of worship or schools*

**How we did this**

Pew Research Center conducted this study to understand the American public’s views of immigration enforcement policies and the personal impact they have on U.S. adults.

For this analysis, we surveyed 5,123 adults from Feb. 24 to March 2, 2025. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), a group of people recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses who have agreed to take surveys regularly. This kind of recruitment gives nearly all U.S. adults a chance of selection. Surveys were conducted either online or by telephone with a live interviewer. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other factors. [Read more about the ATP’s methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/our-methods/u-s-surveys/the-american-trends-panel/).

Here are the [questions](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/03/RE_2025.03.26_Views-of-Deportations_Questionnaire.pdf) used for this report, the [topline](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/03/RE_2025.03.26_Views-of-Deportations_TOPLINE.pdf) and the survey [methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/03/26/views-of-deportations-methodology/).[]

**Terminology**

The terms **Hispanic** and **Latino** are used interchangeably in this report.

**Immigrant **refers to people born outside of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories.

**U.S. born **refers to people born in the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories.

As the new Trump administration begins to [carry out immigration enforcement](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-early-immigration-enforcement-record-by-numbers-2025-03-04/), Americans largely agree that at least some immigrants living in the United States illegally should be deported, in particular those who have committed violent crimes. However, less consensus exists on *how* the government should carry out deportations.

[![A bar chart showing that About a third of U.S. adults say all immigrants in the U.S. illegally should be deported; half say some](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/03/RE_2025.03.26_views-of-deportations_0-01a.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/03/26/americans-views-of-deportations/re_2025-03-26_views-of-deportations_0-01a/)

Roughly one-third of U.S. adults (32%) say all immigrants living in the country illegally should be deported, while 16% say none should be deported. About half (51%) say at least some should face deportation.

U.S. adults who say *some* immigrants living in the country illegally should be deported have varying views of who should be removed. Nearly all (97%) support deporting those who have committed violent crimes.

Those who favor some deportations are more evenly divided when it comes to deporting those who have committed nonviolent crimes (52%) or have arrived in the U.S. during the past four years (44%). By contrast, far fewer say those with family ties in the U.S. should be deported, according to a Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted Feb. 24 to March 2, 2025.

[![An opposing bar chart showing Most U.S. adults say immigration arrests should not be allowed in places of worship or schools](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/03/RE_2025.03.26_views-of-deportations_0-02.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=202928)

When it comes to law enforcement, the public has mixed views on where officers should and should not be allowed to arrest immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. Majorities of U.S. adults say immigration arrests should not take place in:

- Places of worship (65%)

- Schools (63%)

- Hospitals (61%)

By contrast, majorities say arrests of immigrants in the U.S. illegally *should* be allowed in the following places:

- Protests or rallies (66%)

- Homes (63%)

- Workplaces (54%)

*Jump to *[*Chapter 1*](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/03/26/views-on-deportations-and-arrests-of-immigrants-in-the-u-s-illegally/)* to read more on how different groups of Americans view deportations and where immigration arrests are acceptable.*

Donald Trump signed [several executive orders](https://www.propublica.org/article/donald-trump-immigration-executive-orders) related to immigration after becoming president on Jan. 20. By the end of February, apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border had dropped to [historically low levels](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/migrant-arrests-us-mexico-border-approach-record-low-february-2025-02-27/)[][], while [deportations trailed](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-set-broaden-arrests-deportation-routes-expand-immigration-crackdown-2025-02-21/) those of the Biden administration.

In March, after the survey was conducted, [Trump used the Alien Enemies Act of 1798](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/invocation-of-the-alien-enemies-act-regarding-the-invasion-of-the-united-states-by-tren-de-aragua/) to deport [hundreds of immigrants](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-expected-invoke-wartime-alien-enemies-act-carry/story?id=119769090) that his administration said were gang members living in the country illegally. The rarely used act allows the government, if at war, to deport immigrants without allowing them to go before a judge.

During the pandemic, migration to the U.S. stalled because governments around the world restricted travel. Since 2021, U.S. Border Patrol has recorded millions of encounters with migrants crossing into the U.S. from Mexico without authorization, with many seeking asylum. These encounters [peaked in 2023 and dropped sharply in 2024](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/10/01/migrant-encounters-at-u-s-mexico-border-have-fallen-sharply-in-2024/).[1. Encounters refer to events, not people, and some migrants are encountered more than once.]

As of 2022, an estimated [11 million immigrants lived in the U.S. without authorization](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/07/22/what-we-know-about-unauthorized-immigrants-living-in-the-us/). This group includes those who do not have a green card or other lawful temporary residence visa or are not naturalized U.S. citizens.[2. The unauthorized immigrant population includes any immigrants ***not*** in the following groups: immigrants admitted for lawful residence (i.e., green card admissions); people admitted formally as [refugees](https://www.wrapsnet.org/US-Refugee-Admissions-Program/); people granted asylum; former unauthorized immigrants granted legal residence under the 1985 Immigration Reform and Control Act; immigrants admitted in the previously mentioned categories who have become naturalized U.S. citizens; and individuals admitted as lawful temporary residents under specific visa categories such as foreign students, guest workers, and intracompany transfers. Read the [methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2018/11/27/unauthorized-immigration-estimate-methodology/) section of our November 2018 report on unauthorized immigrants for more details. Pew Research Center’s estimate of unauthorized immigrants as of July 2022 includes more than 3 million immigrants who have temporary protection from deportation and permission to be in the U.S. Some also have permission to work in the country. While these immigrants have permission to be in the U.S., they could be subject to deportation if government policy changes. In total, they account for 30% of the national estimate of 11.0 million unauthorized immigrants for 2022.] It also includes an estimated 1.2 million immigrants enrolled in Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) who are temporarily protected from deportation and have a permit to work.

About 772,000 immigrants have received temporary protection through parole programs for [Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans](https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/dhs-implements-new-processes-for-cubans-haitians-and-nicaraguans-and-eliminates-cap-for-venezuelans) (CHNV) and [Ukrainians](https://www.dhs.gov/archive/uniting-ukraine) since 2022. However, the president can revoke these temporary protections. In late March, the [Trump administration announced](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/03/25/2025-05128/termination-of-parole-processes-for-cubans-haitians-nicaraguans-and-venezuelans) it will [remove this deportation protection](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-revokes-legal-status-530000-cubans-haitians-nicaraguans-venezuelans-2025-03-21/) for the approximately 532,000 CHNV parolees.[]

#### Personal impact of deportations, immigration enforcement

Some U.S. adults express concern that they will be personally affected by the government’s immigration enforcement.

- About one-in-five U.S. adults (19%) say they worry a lot or somewhat that **they, a family member or close friend could be deported.**

- And 5% of adults say they are extremely or very worried they will be **asked to prove their U.S. citizenship or immigration status** during their regular day-to-day activities, while 8% say they are somewhat worried.

- Notably, 42% of Hispanic adults say they are worried that they or someone close to them might be deported.

- And 30% of immigrants say they worry that they might be asked for proof of their U.S. citizenship or immigration status.

Fewer adults also say that in the month prior to taking the survey, they made changes to their day-to-day lives due to worry over being questioned about their U.S. citizenship or immigration status.

- 4% say they began to **carry a document that proves their U.S. citizenship or immigration status** (such as a passport, birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization certificate) during their daily activities.

- 2% say they **made changes in their daily schedule or routine** due to worrying they might be asked to prove their U.S. citizenship or immigration status.

- And 2% say they have **avoided using public services** (such as health care and law enforcement services) due to this worry.

*Jump to *[*Chapter 2*](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/03/26/personal-impacts-of-deportations-and-arrests-on-u-s-adults/)* to read more about the personal impact of deportations on different groups of U.S. adults.*

#### Partisan differences in views of immigration

[![A bar chart showing that 54% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say all immigrants living in the country illegally should be deported, compared with 10% of Democrats and Democratic leaners](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/03/RE_2025.03.26_views-of-deportations_0-03.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=202929)

Stark partisan divides exist on views of immigration enforcement.

- 54% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say ***all *immigrants living in the country illegally should be deported,** compared with 10% of Democrats and Democratic leaners.

- 81% of Republicans say **law enforcement officers should be allowed to check a person’s immigration status during routine activities** like a traffic stop, while 33% of Democrats say the same.

- 75% of Democrats say **the Trump administration is doing too much** when it comes to deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, compared with 13% of Republicans.

There are also wide partisan differences on where arrests of immigrants living in the country illegally should be allowed.

- 89% of Republicans compared with 44% of Democrats say arrests of immigrants in the country illegally should be allowed **at protests or rallies.**

- 84% of Republicans say arrests should be allowed **in people’s homes,** compared with 44% of Democrats.

- 52% of Republicans say arrests should be allowed **at places of worship,** while 15% of Democrats say so.
[][]

---

**Next:** [1. Views on deportations and arrests of immigrants in the U.S. illegally](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/03/26/views-on-deportations-and-arrests-of-immigrants-in-the-u-s-illegally.md)