As the Trump administration begins high-profile immigration raids across the country, a new survey finds that a majority of Texans agree with calls to quickly deport undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of a felony or who have lost their asylum claims. There is, however, also substantial support for allowing those who meet certain requirements to remain here legally.
Key Findings
- 87% of Texans support deporting undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of a felony. 72% support increased deportations of those whose asylum claims were denied.
- 64% say undocumented immigrants who meet certain requirements should be allowed to stay, either as legal permanent residents or with a pathway to citizenship.
- 69% support more pathways for legal immigration, both for highly skilled immigrants (72%) or to fill a labor market need (69%).
New research from the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the 兔子先生 also found a majority of Texans support increasing opportunities for legal immigration.
Ren茅e Cross, researcher and senior executive director of the Hobby School, noted that almost nine out of 10 Texans, or 87%, believe the country should increase deportations of illegal immigrants who have been convicted of a felony. And 72% support deporting those who remained in the country after their applications for asylum were denied.
鈥淏ut almost two-thirds, 64%, say those who are here illegally and can meet certain requirements, such as not having a criminal record or having a spouse or child who is a U.S. citizen, should be allowed to stay,鈥� she said. 鈥淭exans certainly don鈥檛 see immigration as a black or white issue.鈥�
Of those who say certain undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay legally, more than half (56%) support a pathway to citizenship, while 44% support a pathway to legal permanent residency.
鈥淭exans certainly don鈥檛 see immigration as a black or white issue.鈥�
-Ren茅e Cross, researcher and senior executive director of the Hobby School, University of Houston
Mark P. Jones, political science fellow at Rice University鈥檚 Baker Institute for Public Policy and senior research fellow at the Hobby School, said the backing for allowing some undocumented immigrants to remain legally is paired with strong support for increasing avenues for legal immigration.
鈥淢ore than seven out of 10 Texans, or 72%, support allowing more highly skilled workers into the country,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nother 69% say there should be legal avenues for people who can fill a labor market need.鈥�
At the same time, Jones said, 73% of Texans believe there should be limits on the number of immigrants who can claim asylum.
Among the report鈥檚 other findings:
- 73% support allowing undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children (i.e., 鈥淒reamers鈥�) to stay here.
- 36% said no undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay, but that sentiment varied from 56% of Republicans and 53% of the Silent and Baby Boom generations to 12% of Democrats and 18% of Gen Z.
- 56% support repealing the Texas Dream Act, the 2001 law which allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. 44% oppose efforts to repeal the law.
- 67% support expanding the border wall and additional barriers at the border, including 91% of Republicans, while 61% support increased government spending to ensure safe and sanitary conditions for immigrants at the border, including 85% of Democrats.
The on the Hobby School website. The survey was conducted between Jan. 13 and 21, in English and Spanish. The margin of error is +/-2.83%. An earlier report focused on proposals for the state鈥檚 $24 billion budget surplus and attitudes about education savings accounts. Future reports in the series will focus on attitudes about gambling and marijuana; policies dealing with abortion and guns; and elections and election reform.
Story by Jeannie Kever