Most Californians still disapprove of immigration crackdown, poll says

WASHINGTON— Two-thirds of California voters disapprove of President Trump’s immigration policies, and a majority believe those policies discriminate against Latinos, according to a new poll.

Nearly half of voters said they were concerned that they, a family member or close friend could be detained because of Trump’s immigration policies.

The findings of a UC Berkeley Institute of Government Studies poll released Wednesday show that most Californians have not wavered in their opinion of the president’s approach to immigration since he returned to office. A poll last August similarly showed strong disapproval of the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.

The poll, conducted for the Los Angeles Times, showed the usual divide along party lines when voters were asked whether they trust the U.S. Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, whether agents are required to wear masks while on duty and whether they face discrimination against Latinos.

“This suggests that a significant number of voters think ICE’s violations of the individual rights of undocumented people will potentially lead to broader violations of the rights of citizens,” said G. Cristina Mora, co-director of the institute and a professor of sociology at UC Berkeley who studies race and immigration.

“Latino voters also appear to be particularly concerned about how racism motivates current immigration enforcement,” he said, possibly tied to the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold immigration officials detaining people based on their perceived race, ethnicity, language or occupation.

The overall disapproval rate for Trump’s immigration policies among voters (64%) was slightly lower than in the August poll; 69% of respondents said they disapprove of how immigration enforcement is handled in California.

Republicans now appear to be more approving of immigration policies; 86 percent say they approve of Trump’s immigration policies; Last August, 79 percent approved of enforcement in California.

California Republicans’ turn to the Trump administration may be due in part to the framing of the question “President Trump’s immigration policies,” Mora said.

He said whenever Trump’s name is mentioned, Republicans are more likely to agree with him. The same effect is seen when asked about other topics, such as the economy.

Another factor could be timing, Mora said. Last summer, federal agents conducted large-scale raids in Los Angeles before targeting other cities such as Chicago and Minneapolis.

He said Republicans are “back in line” with the administration now that the administration has moved away from some of the tactics that led to the escalation of violence.

“My hunch is it was shocking,” Mora said of last summer’s immigration raids. “Everything has become normal because the tension is somewhere else.”

Seeking to ease tensions after two protesters were shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, the president tapped border adviser Tom Homan to take control of the immigration enforcement operation there.

That’s why voters are more supportive, Republican strategist Ford O’Connell said.

“The fact that Tom Homan is in office, he’s taken a much lighter approach publicly, and he seems reasonable to the average voter, is why you’re seeing this turnaround,” he said.

But Democratic strategist Maria Cardona said that was wishful thinking and that ICE’s approach remains largely unchanged.

“It’s only down five points,” he said, referring to disapproval of Trump’s policies. “This isn’t about the American people siding with the administration; it’s about not seeing American citizens being murdered on their screens every day.”

One question has driven a strong divide among Republicans: Should immigration officers be allowed to enter the homes of suspected undocumented immigrants without a judge-approved search warrant?

45 percent of California Republicans said no, 38 percent said yes, and 17 percent said they had no opinion.

O’Connell said that’s because Republicans place a high value on civil liberties, especially property.

Republicans were more strongly supportive of a different policy that would allow ICE agents to wear masks while on duty. 91 percent of Democrats opposed the policy, while 68 percent of Republicans supported it.

In the August poll, 45 percent of Republicans said federal agents should show clear identification while doing their job. This desire for identification does not seem to extend to full facial recognition.

O’Connell said he understands Republicans’ concern about agents increasingly having their personal information deleted.

“Management wants to find a happy vehicle out there, whether it’s a nameplate or a badge number,” he said. “There is wiggle room.”

Nearly 7 in 10 survey respondents said they want state and local authorities to intervene when federal immigration officers witness illegal detentions or excessive use of force.

Voters were also asked about their level of concern that they, a family member or close friend could be detained due to Trump’s immigration policies. 85 percent of Republicans said they were not very concerned or not at all concerned, while 63 percent of Democrats said they were somewhat or very concerned.

Nearly half of respondents overall, 45%, said they were somewhat or very concerned. Across racial and ethnic groups, 62% of Latino voters, 46% of Black voters and 43% of Asian or Pacific Islander voters said they were somewhat or very concerned.

“The Latino community has always wanted to think about what is best for this country, and still does,” Cardona said. “Our positivism, our optimism, our hope for a better future is second to none. I think that’s what you see in these numbers, even though our community feels completely attacked.”

Mora said the high level of anxiety among Black residents is notable because, while most Black Californians are not immigrants themselves, Los Angeles has one of the largest concentrations of Blaxicans, the children of one Black parent and one Latino parent.

Beyond mixed marriages, black residents in California also likely have immigrant friends or neighbors, he said.

O’Connell had a different view: “I don’t think we can get anything out of this other than one side being more focused on identity politics than the other.”

The Institute for Government Research’s survey was completed online in English and Spanish by 5,109 registered voters in California between March 9 and 15.