The survey of likely voters, conducted in key 2026 battleground districts, seeks to offer Democrats a strategy for countering their struggles with the immigration issue. It argues that if the party focuses on Trump’s overreach, they could reduce his lead by a significant margin. The poll, which was conducted by Impact Research and Way to Win, reveals that Democrats have a poor standing on immigration, with a net negative score of 58 percentage points. The study highlights the importance of addressing Trump’s enforcement tactics rather than remaining silent on the issue. By emphasizing his disregard for the rule of law and the impact of his deportation policies, the survey suggests that Democrats can shift public opinion and counter Trump’s influence on the immigration issue.
Among the examples used in the survey was the case of a man who was deported for a tattoo associated with autism awareness, which was wrongly identified as a gang-related design. Another example was a 10-year-old U.S. citizen who was deported because her parents were undocumented. These cases demonstrate the challenges posed by Trump’s enforcement methods and the potential for the Democratic party to use these stories to shift public opinion. Researchers also highlighted the growing public concern over the separation of families and the impact on children, with 74 percent of respondents opposing the revocation of visa and green cards for people without a criminal record. The survey also found that 78 percent of respondents oppose sending U.S. citizens to foreign prisons, indicating a strong preference for enforcing immigration policies without harming citizens.
The survey also suggests that there is a gap in how voters perceive Trump’s immigration policies. While they may support some aspects of his approach from a policy standpoint, they are more critical of the enforcement methods. Molly Murphy of Impact Research emphasized the importance of shifting the focus from protests to the real impact of Trump’s policies. The survey also acknowledges the challenges of engaging voters on the specifics of immigration issues, as public polling indicates that those who are less informed are more likely to approve of Trump’s policies. The poll, conducted between May 6 and 11 with a margin of error of ±3.1 percent, does not account for the widespread protests in Los Angeles, which have also become a point of contention between Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Democrats have emphasized the need to keep the focus on the consequences of Trump’s immigration policies rather than divert attention to the protests. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) has called for the party to highlight these stories and plans to hold a briefing for members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The study’s findings could inform the party’s strategy for upcoming elections, emphasizing the importance of clear messaging to counter Trump’s influence on the immigration issue.