Trump approval on immigration slips into negative territory: Survey

(The Hill) – President Trump’s approval rating on immigration, one of his core campaign issues, has slipped into negative territory since February, according to a survey released on Friday. 

The Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that 53 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of immigration, while 46 percent are supportive of the president's approach to the issue. 

Trump's approval rating on the issue was more positive in February, when 50 percent approved and 48 percent disapproved of his handling of immigration. 

There is a wide divide between Democrats' and Republicans' perceptions of Trump's handling of immigration, but the negative outlook has increased across the political spectrum.

The latest poll shows 90 percent of Democratic Party voters, 56 percent of independents and 11 percent of Republican voters disapprove of the president’s management of immigration, according to the poll. 

Since taking office, Trump has signed a number of executive orders focused on securing the southern border and cracking down on illegal immigration. The administration has deported 200 Venezuelan and Salvadoran men, alleging they are members of gangs, decisions that have prompted numerous challenges in court. 

Perhaps the most prominent such case is that of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who was married to a U.S. citizen and was wrongly deported last month.

The Friday survey found that nearly half of Americans, 46 percent, said that Abrego Garcia should be brought back to the U.S.

Around a quarter, 26 percent, said Abrego Garcia, who entered the country illegally and has been accused by the administration of being an MS-13 gang member — an allegation his family and attorneys deny — should remain in prison in El Salvador. Three-in-10 said they did not know enough about the case to voice an opinion. 

Fifth-three percent of GOP voters say Abrego Garcia should remain in jail in El Salvador, while 14 percent said he should be brought back to the U.S. The rest did not know enough about the topic. 

Abrego Garcia’s potential return to the U.S. has more support among Democrats and independents. A large majority of Democrats, 74 percent, said he should be returned to the country. Some 20 percent did not know enough about the case. 

Nearly four-in-10 independents say that the Maryland residents should be brought back, while 21 percent disagree. Some 39 percent did not know enough about the topic. 

The poll was conducted from April 18-22 among 2,464 U.S. adults. The margin of error was around two percentage points.