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Polling on Support for Mass Deportations Has Some Surprising Findings. But Does It Matter?

Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation operation in history if reelected, and according to a new survey, a majority of Americans would support that effort.

An Axios Vibes survey by The Harris Poll found 51 percent of the general public support mass deportations amid record illegal border crossings.  

By political affiliation, 68 percent of Republicans support mass deportations, as do 46 percent of independents, and 42 percent of Democrats. 

When age groups are considered, mass deportations are increasingly favored the older Americans get, with the lowest support among Gen Z at 35 percent, followed by Millennials at 48 percent, Gen X at 53 percent, and Boomer-plus at 60 percent. 

President Biden is keenly aware the crisis threatens his re-election. He's sought to flip the script by accusing Trump of sabotaging Congress' most conservative bipartisan immigration bill in decades.

But when it comes to blame, Biden so far has failed to shift the narrative: 32% of respondents say his administration is "most responsible" for the crisis, outranking any other political or structural factor.

Axios Vibe Check: Amid a record number of border crossings, nearly two-thirds of Americans said illegal immigration is a real crisis, not a politically driven media narrative.

What they're saying: "I was surprised at the public support for large-scale deportations," said Mark Penn, chairman of The Harris Poll and a former pollster for President Clinton.

"I think they're just sending a message to politicians: 'Get this under control,' " he said, calling it a warning to Biden that "efforts to shift responsibility for the issue to Trump are not going to work." (Axios)

When asked to name their top concern with illegal immigration, an increase in crime, violence, and drugs was commonly cited (21 percent), as was the burden on taxpayers (18 percent), and national security and terrorism risks (17 percent). 

As some conservative commentators noted, however, a majority opinion and political will to carry out mass deportations are very different concepts.