The claim that Americans support allowing undocumented immigrants to stay by a 2 to 1 majority, assuming they meet certain requirements, is generally supported by recent polling data.
Multiple polls indicate strong support for allowing undocumented immigrants to remain in the United States under certain conditions:
A 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 64% of Americans believed undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay in the country legally if they meet certain requirements.
- The same Pew poll showed that 59% of registered voters supported allowing undocumented immigrants to stay legally, with 36% favoring a path to citizenship and 22% supporting permanent residency.
- A Gallup poll from 2024 revealed that 70% of Americans favored allowing undocumented immigrants a chance to become U.S. citizens if they meet certain requirements over time.
These figures align closely with the 2 to 1 majority mentioned in the claim.
While there is indeed strong support for allowing undocumented immigrants to stay, the data also shows a significant constituency for deportations:
- An AP-NORC poll from January 2025 found that 43% of Americans favored deporting all undocumented immigrants, while 37% opposed this action.
- A New York Times/Ipsos poll from January 2025 indicated that 55% of respondents either strongly or somewhat supported the idea of mass deportations.
- A Pew Research Center survey from June 2024 showed that 41% of registered voters believed undocumented immigrants should not be allowed to stay in the country legally, with 37% supporting a national effort to deport them.
While the majority of Americans do support pathways for undocumented immigrants to stay legally, there is also a substantial portion of the population that favors deportations. The political landscape on this issue is complex and divided, with significant variations based on party affiliation, demographics, and how questions are framed in polls.
As the Trump administration and GOP consider implementing mass deportation policies, they may indeed face challenges due to the overall public preference for allowing undocumented immigrants to stay. However, they also have a considerable base of support for stricter immigration enforcement measures.