Majority of Californian voters express dissatisfaction with Trump's immigration enforcement strategies, according to poll findings.
In a poll conducted online from August 11-17, 4,950 registered voters in California shared their views on immigration enforcement. The results reveal a divided state, with significant disagreements between Democrats and Republicans on the matter.
Mike Madrid, a GOP political consultant, stated that the split among Republicans is consistent with national polling and is problematic for President Trump because it means he is losing big swaths of his base. This division is evident in the poll's findings, with 79% of Republicans approving of the way immigration enforcement is being carried out in the state, compared to 69% of respondents who disapprove.
However, among Democrats, the disapproval rate is much higher, with 95% expressing discontent. Notably, 91% of Democrats felt enraged or sad about immigration raids, and 92% agreed that federal agents should be required to show clear identification when carrying out their work.
Republicans were largely united in response to the Trump administration's proposal to do away with birthright citizenship, with 67% approving and most of them strongly approving. This approval rating is in contrast to the feelings of Democrats and those with no party preference, who largely disapprove of such a move.
The poll also asked Republicans about expanding immigration enforcement into schools, hospitals, parks, and other public locations. 53% of Republicans agreed, though fewer than 1 in 3 agree strongly. This proposal has sparked concern among many Californians, leading schools in Los Angeles to implement "safe zones" in heavily Latino neighborhoods and change bus routes with less exposure to immigration agents.
A letter spearheaded by Senator Alex Padilla was sent to Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons seeking information about the agency's policies regarding the identification of agents while on duty. The letter cited concerns about the lack of identification, with 50% of Republicans and 64% of voters overall agreeing that federal agents should be required to show clear identification.
ICE has justified the lack of identification by stating that agents are at risk of doxxing and have faced increased assault on the job. However, this explanation has done little to alleviate the concerns of many Californians, especially in light of incidents like the arrest of 18-year-old high school senior, Benjamin Marcelo Guerrero-Cruz, who was taken into federal immigration custody while walking his family's dog in Van Nuys.
The question remains whether Trump's approval ratings among Latinos could regress substantially enough to flip control of Congress in the midterms. Madrid said that's consistent with national polling showing a decrease in support for Republicans among Latinos after record gains in the last presidential election. The split among Republicans and the strong disapproval from Democrats could indeed have significant implications for the political landscape in California.
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