A new national poll indicates most voters perceive Democrats as supporting open border policies, with notable agreement across party lines.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A majority of U.S. voters believe Democrats support open border policies, according to a recent Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll conducted in late April.
The survey found that 58% of registered voters view Democrats as being in favor of open borders. That perception extended across political affiliations, including 67% of Republicans, 53% of independents, and 52% of Democrats.
The poll surveyed 2,745 registered voters between April 23 and April 26 and reported a margin of error of plus or minus 1.87 percentage points.
The same survey measured approval ratings for President Donald Trump, showing an overall approval level of 42%, down slightly from 43% in the prior poll. The data indicated lower approval across multiple policy areas, including inflation, the broader economy, and foreign policy matters involving Iran.
Despite those figures, 47% of respondents said they approve of Trump’s handling of immigration, making it one of his stronger issue areas, second only to crime-related policies at 48%.
Inflation and cost of living concerns ranked as the most pressing issues among voters, with 35% identifying price increases and affordability as their top concern. Economic conditions and employment followed at 28%, while immigration ranked third at 24%.
The survey also evaluated support for specific immigration-related policies. Deporting immigrants in the country illegally who have committed crimes received 75% support, making it one of the more widely backed proposals measured. By contrast, deporting all individuals residing in the country illegally drew 55% support, placing it among the less-supported policies included in the poll.
Other policy proposals measured in the survey included tightening voter identification requirements for upcoming elections, using U.S. military resources to target drug trafficking organizations in Latin America, and implementing reciprocal tariffs on countries that impose tariffs on U.S. goods. Each of those proposals received support levels of around 58% to 60%.
Perceptions of party positions on enforcement also differed. A narrow majority of respondents, 51%, said Democrats support deporting immigrants in the country illegally who have committed violent crimes. A significantly larger share, 80%, said Republicans support such actions, including 79% of Democrats and 78% of independents who attributed that stance to the Republican Party.
The findings highlight continued divisions in how voters view immigration policy and broader economic concerns as the 2026 election cycle approaches.