--- title: "About half of Americans continue to say Trump administration is doing ‘too much’ on deportations" description: "The share saying the administration is doing too little to deport immigrants living in the country illegally has risen slightly, mainly driven by Republicans." date: "2026-05-04" authors: - name: "Joseph Copeland" job_title: "Research Analyst" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/joseph-copeland/" - name: "Alexandra Cahn" job_title: "Research Assistant" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/alex-cahn/" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/05/04/about-half-of-americans-continue-to-say-trump-administration-is-doing-too-much-on-deportations/" categories: - "Immigration Attitudes" - "Immigration Issues" - "Politics & Policy" - "Unauthorized Immigration" --- # About half of Americans continue to say Trump administration is doing ‘too much’ on deportations About half of U.S. adults (52%) say the Trump administration is doing too much to deport immigrants who are living in the country illegally, according to a Pew Research Center survey of 3,592 U.S. adults conducted April 6-12, 2026. This share is little changed from when we last asked this question in [October 2025](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/12/15/growing-shares-say-the-trump-administration-is-doing-too-much-to-deport-immigrants-in-the-us-illegally/). ### Roughly half of U.S. adults say Trump administration is doing ‘too much’ on deportations, unchanged from October *% who say the Trump administration is doing __ when it comes to deporting immigrants who are living in the U.S. illegally* | Group | Date | Too much | About the right amount | Too little | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Total | 4/12/2026 | 52% | 31% | 15% | | | 10/16/2025 | 53% | 36% | 10% | | | 3/2/2025 | 44% | 43% | 11% | | | 2/2/2025 | 44% | 47% | 8% | | Rep/Lean Rep | 4/12/2026 | 19% | 53% | 28% | | | 10/16/2025 | 20% | 64% | 16% | | | 3/2/2025 | 13% | 69% | 17% | | | 2/2/2025 | 13% | 74% | 12% | | Dem/Lean Dem | 4/12/2026 | 84% | 12% | 4% | | | 10/16/2025 | 86% | 9% | 4% | | | 3/2/2025 | 75% | 17% | 6% | | | 2/2/2025 | 73% | 21% | 4% | Note: No answer responses are not shown. Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 6-12, 2026. However, slightly more Americans now say the administration is doing *too little *to deport immigrants who are living in the country illegally (15% now vs. 10% in October). This is primarily driven by Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, as 28% now say the administration is doing too little. That’s the highest share since we first asked this question in [February 2025](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/02/07/what-americans-think-about-trumps-immigration-actions-early-in-his-second-term/#:~:text=Partisan%20views%20of%20the%20Trump%20administration%E2%80%99s%20immigration%20policies), early in Donald Trump’s second term as president. Meanwhile, the share of U.S. adults who say the administration is doing *about the right amount* when it comes to deportations has fallen steadily, from 47% in February 2025 to 31% today. **About this research** Pew Research Center surveyed Americans to see how they view the Trump administration’s efforts to arrest and deport immigrants who are living in the country illegally. #### Why did we do this? Pew Research Center does research to help the public, media and decision-makers understand important topics. This project builds on our long-standing research about [immigration attitudes](https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/immigration-migration/immigration-attitudes/). [Learn more about Pew Research Center.](https://www.pewresearch.org/about/) #### How did we do this? This analysis includes findings from a survey of 3,592 U.S. adults who are part of the Center’s [American Trends Panel](https://www.pewresearch.org/the-american-trends-panel/) (ATP). The survey was conducted April 6-12, 2026, and has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points. Here are the [questions used for this analysis](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/05/SR_26.05.04_deportations_questionnaire.pdf), the [detailed responses](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/05/SR_26.05.04_deportations_topline.pdf) and the [survey methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/05/SR_26.05.04_deportations_methodology.pdf). #### Terminology **Immigrants** are U.S. residents born in foreign countries to parents who aren’t U.S. citizens. People who are **U.S. born** are those born in the U.S. or its territories or born in foreign countries to U.S. citizen parents. **Second generation** refers to people who are U.S. born with at least one immigrant parent. **Third or higher generation** refers to people who are U.S. born with both parents who are U.S. born. References to **White,** **Black** and **Asian** adults include those who are not Hispanic and identify as only one race. Views of Asian adults are representative of English speakers only. **Hispanics** are of any race. #### How views differ by demographic group Some groups of Americans are more likely than others to say the Trump administration is doing *too much* to deport immigrants who are living in the U.S. illegally: ### Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say administration is doing ‘too much’ on deportations *% who say the Trump administration is doing __ when it comes to deporting immigrants who are living in the U.S. illegally* | | Too much | About the right amount | Too little | Group | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Total | 52% | 31% | 15% | Total | | Men | 46% | 34% | 19% | Gender | | Women | 58% | 30% | 11% | Gender | | White | 45% | 38% | 17% | Race | | Hispanic | 65% | 22% | 10% | Race | | Black | 69% | 17% | 11% | Race | | Asian* | 58% | 32% | 10% | Race | | Ages 18-29 | 65% | 25% | 9% | Age | | 30-49 | 55% | 28% | 16% | Age | | 50-64 | 45% | 37% | 16% | Age | | 65+ | 45% | 36% | 17% | Age | | Immigrant | 65% | 26% | 7% | Origin | | U.S. born | 50% | 32% | 17% | Origin | | 2nd gen. | 62% | 21% | 15% | Immigration | | 3rd or higher gen. | 48% | 34% | 17% | Immigration | | Rep/Lean Rep | 19% | 53% | 28% | Party | | Dem/Lean Dem | 84% | 12% | 4% | Party | * Estimates for Asian adults are representative of English speakers only. Note: White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being only one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race. No answer responses are not shown. Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 6-12, 2026. - Democrats and Democratic leaners (84%) are more likely than Republicans and GOP leaners (19%) to say the administration is doing too much. - Black (69%), Hispanic (65%) and Asian (58%) adults are more likely than White adults (45%) to say this. - Adults under 30 (65%) are more likely than adults 30 and older to say the administration is doing too much (55% or fewer). - Larger shares of women (58%) than men (46%) say this. There are also differences by nativity and immigrant generation.** **Third- or higher-generation adults (48%) are *less likely* than second-generation adults (62%) or immigrants (65%) to say the administration is doing too much. (Second-generation adults are U.S. born to at least one immigrant parent. Third- or higher-generation adults are U.S. born to U.S.-born parents.) For most of these groups, views on this question are similar today to what they were in October 2025. However, [Hispanic adults have become slightly less likely](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/11/24/what-latinos-think-about-the-trump-administrations-deportation-efforts/#do-latinos-believe-trump-s-deportation-efforts-have-gone-too-far) to say to the Trump administration is doing too much (65% now vs. 71% then). #### Where immigration arrests should be able to happen Americans have mixed views about where law enforcement officers should be allowed to arrest immigrants who are living in the U.S. illegally. ### Most Americans say immigration arrests should not be allowed at places of worship, schools, hospitals *% who say law enforcement officers __ to arrest immigrants living in the U.S. illegally in each of the following places* | | Should not be allowed | Should be allowed | | --- | --- | --- | | Places of worship | 71% | 28% | | Hospitals | 67% | 32% | | Schools | 67% | 32% | | Workplaces | 47% | 51% | | Homes | 43% | 56% | | Protests or rallies | 36% | 62% | Note: No answer responses are not shown. Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 6-12, 2026. Two-thirds of Americans or more say arrests *should not* be allowed in: - Places of worship (71%) - Hospitals (67%) - Schools (67%) Roughly half or more of Americans say arrests s*hould *be allowed* *at: - Protests or rallies (62%) - Homes (56%) - Workplaces (51%) This pattern is similar to when we last asked this question [in early March 2025](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/03/26/americans-views-of-deportations/#:~:text=Majorities%20of%20U,Workplaces%20(54%25)). *Note: Here are the [questions used for this analysis](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/05/SR_26.05.04_deportations_questionnaire.pdf), the [detailed responses](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/05/SR_26.05.04_deportations_topline.pdf) and the [survey methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/05/SR_26.05.04_deportations_methodology.pdf).*