**Rising Support for Deporting Undocumented Immigrants Reflects Increasing Nativist Sentiments**

Recent polling reveals a marked rise in the number of Americans supporting the deportation of undocumented immigrants since Donald Trump left office, underscoring a surge in nativist attitudes. However, the degree of public support for mass deportation appears to be significantly influenced by how the questions are framed, indicating that a complete rejection of pathways to citizenship may not align with the public's overall sentiment.

Donald Trump, who has made promises of mass deportations a key part of his 2024 campaign, finds his allies already strategizing on methods to implement such policies. Immigration advocates, on the other hand, are preparing for potential sweeping actions. Despite immigration emerging as a strong issue for Trump in this election cycle, as indicated by a 9-point lead over Vice President Kamala Harris on the matter, CNN's national exit polls illustrate a complex picture. About 56% of voters expressed support for allowing most undocumented immigrants to apply for legal status, contrary to the idea of mass deportation. Even among Trump voters, one-quarter favored a pathway to citizenship.

Survey results from various sources have shown opposing trends based on question framing. A June Gallup poll reported that 47% of Americans supported deporting all undocumented immigrants. An October Marquette Law School poll had an even higher figure of 58%. However, when the Marquette poll included the context of immigrants having lived in the US for years, holding jobs, and having no criminal record, support for deportation dropped to 40%, with 60% opposing it.

Similarly, further data from Gallup indicated that 70% of US adults were in favor of providing undocumented immigrants with a pathway to citizenship if they meet certain criteria over time. Even more striking, 81% supported citizenship for those brought to the US as children. A June CBS News/YouGov poll found that despite 62% favoring a new national deportation initiative, a slim majority opposed using detention centers for this purpose.

Polling that juxtaposed deportation against a path to citizenship often revealed more support for the latter. CNN's pre-election survey demonstrated that two-thirds of registered voters prioritized a plan for allowing some undocumented immigrants to gain legal status. Pew Research Center’s summer polling echoed this sentiment, with 59% of registered voters supporting a pathway for those meeting specific requirements, compared to 37% who did not.

Despite differing results based on survey methods, a common thread in national polls is the rising support for deportation policies and nativist sentiment. CNN's recent polls noted a 20-point increase in deportation support since 2017. Similarly, data showed a 22-point rise in the number of voters viewing cultural diversity as a threat rather than an enrichment to society.

Gallup's June 2024 data reflected a 15-point increase from 2016 in the number of Americans favoring deportation of all undocumented immigrants, alongside a 17-point rise in those favoring reduced immigration levels. Political scientist Michael Tesler suggests that these shifting attitudes might align with the "thermostatic model" of public opinion, indicating a tendency for public views to swing against the current administration's policies, moving left under Trump and right under Biden—potentially fluctuating again if Trump secures a second term.