Most Americans say people should be allowed to record immigration arrests and warn others where enforcement is happening, even as views of immigration officers’ actions remain deeply divided.
A new Pew Research Center survey of 8,512 U.S. adults finds 74% say it’s acceptable for people to record video of immigration officers while they make arrests. Another 59% say it’s acceptable to share information about where immigration officers are arresting people.
Strong opposition to profiling and hidden identities
While many support civilian actions, large majorities draw clear lines around how officers should operate.
The survey shows 72% of Americans say it’s unacceptable for immigration officers to use a person’s appearance or the language they speak as a reason to check immigration status. About 61% also say it’s unacceptable for officers to wear face coverings that hide their identities while working.
Americans are more split on other enforcement actions. About 44% say it’s acceptable for officers to arrest U.S. citizens who help others avoid immigration enforcement, while 54% say it’s unacceptable. The same divide appears over increasing enforcement presence in neighborhoods with many immigrants.
Sharp partisan divides
Party affiliation shapes views across nearly every question.
Majorities of both Republicans and Democrats say it’s acceptable to record immigration arrests. But Democrats are far more likely to support sharing officers’ locations. About 80% of Democrats say that’s acceptable, compared with just 36% of Republicans.
Republicans, meanwhile, are much more likely to approve of tougher enforcement actions. Large majorities say it’s acceptable for officers to arrest U.S. citizens who help others avoid arrest, increase their presence in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods and wear face coverings on the job.
Even so, profiling draws broader opposition. Roughly half of Republicans say using appearance or language to check immigration status is unacceptable, while more than nine in 10 Democrats say the same.
Views of Trump-era immigration policies are mixed
The survey also measured views of several Trump administration immigration policies.
A majority of Americans favor maintaining a large military presence at the U.S.-Mexico border and requiring people entering the country to allow immigration officers to review their social media accounts.
At the same time, most Americans oppose several restrictive proposals. These include suspending all asylum applications, keeping large numbers of immigrants in detention centers, pausing visa applications from people in 75 countries and giving immigration priority to people who pay a $1 million fee.
Opposition to the $1 million priority option stands out as one of the few areas where majorities of both Republicans and Democrats agree.
Public supports transparency, not unchecked power
Taken together, the findings suggest Americans largely support public oversight of immigration enforcement while rejecting practices they view as unfair or excessive.
The survey was conducted from Jan. 20 to 26 and reflects views during a period of heightened immigration enforcement nationwide, according to Pew.
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