Quick Hit:

A Fox News poll released Thursday shows that two-thirds of Americans back deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. The survey also highlights the growing divide between Republicans and Democrats on immigration policy, as well as shifting views on U.S. foreign policy, including support for Ukraine and Israel.

Key Details:

According to the poll, 66% of voters support deporting illegal immigrants, a view that has grown by 15 points since 2015, with significant increases among nonwhite voters, Republicans, and rural Americans.
The poll shows a decline in support for allowing illegal immigrants with jobs to stay and apply for legal status, especially among Republicans, who have dropped 28 points on the issue over the past decade.
The economy (40%) remains the top voter concern, followed by immigration (17%) and abortion (15%). Trump holds a 15-point advantage over Harris on handling immigration issues, up from a 10-point lead in September.

Diving Deeper:

At rallies nationwide, former President Donald Trump has consistently promised mass deportations of immigrants living illegally in the United States, a promise that resonates strongly with his base. The latest Fox News Poll, released Thursday, underscores support for this stance, revealing that two-thirds of American voters favor deportation—unchanged from last December and up significantly since the question was first posed in 2015.

Support for deportations has surged across various demographics. Notably, nonwhite voters now show 24-point growth in support, while Republicans have seen a 21-point increase. Rural and urban voters have also shifted favorably toward the policy, with a 20-point and 19-point rise, respectively. Men are more supportive as well, up by 16 points. While Democrats are more likely to favor deportation than before, their shift has been more modest, increasing by 8 points.

The poll also reveals declining support for allowing illegal immigrants with jobs to remain in the country and seek legal status, with Republicans showing the most significant drop, falling by 28 points from a decade ago. In contrast, Democrats have become slightly more inclined to support this, with a 4-point rise in favorability.

Immigration remains one of the top issues shaping the 2024 election. Forty percent of voters identify the economy as their most pressing concern, followed by immigration at 17%, and abortion at 15%. For Trump supporters, immigration (17%) and the economy (18%) are the primary motivators driving them to the polls. In contrast, for supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris, the top motivators include a dislike of Trump (17%) and issues such as abortion and democracy, both cited by 14% of respondents.

In terms of leadership on immigration, Trump holds a 15-point advantage over Harris, an increase from a 10-point lead just a month prior. This trend is not new—Trump has consistently outperformed both Harris and President Biden on immigration issues, which has kept the race competitive despite close margins in voter preference.

On foreign policy, voters are increasingly skeptical of U.S. involvement abroad. Forty percent of those surveyed believe the U.S. should scale back its support for Ukraine in the war with Russia, a 5-point increase since May and a 14-point rise since 2022. Voter opinions on U.S. support for Israel remain divided, with 32% saying the U.S. is too supportive, 29% believing it is not supportive enough, and 35% thinking it strikes the right balance.

Regarding the war in the Middle East, Trump holds a significant lead over Harris in voters' confidence. Fifty-five percent see Trump as the better candidate to manage the conflict, compared to 42% for Harris, with Trump widening his lead from a 7-point gap in September to a 13-point margin.

As immigration and foreign policy issues continue to dominate headlines, Trump’s lead on these topics could prove decisive in the 2024 election, as he consistently outpaces Harris in the polls on these matters.