THE APEX TIMES
AP-NORC poll finds 39% approve of President Trump’s handling of immigration, down 10 points since start of second term
The new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey shows the share of Americans approving of President Donald Trump’s immigration performance at 39%, with 58% disapproving.
President Donald Trump’s handling of immigration is drawing more disapproval than approval, according to a new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey reported by The Hill on August 3, 2026.
The poll found that 39 percent of respondents approve of Trump’s handling of immigration. It also reported that approval is down 10 points from the start of Trump’s second term, indicating a decline in public support for his immigration approach over that period.
In the same survey, 58 percent of respondents said they disapprove of Trump’s handling of immigration. The reported approval and disapproval figures frame a net-negative view on the issue that Trump has kept near the center of his political agenda.
The survey results were presented as part of broader polling on immigration priorities and evaluations of the president’s performance. The Hill’s report emphasized that immigration remains a core issue for Trump and that the current approval level reflects weaker ratings than earlier in the second term.
The poll’s movement since the start of the second term suggests changing public attitudes as the administration’s immigration policies have continued to unfold over time, though the report did not attribute the shift to any single policy decision or event.
The survey findings arrive as immigration remains a prominent federal issue involving enforcement priorities, border management, and adjudication processes, areas where public views can be shaped by perceptions of public safety, government effectiveness, and the administration’s handling of people seeking entry.
The next step for interpreting the survey will be comparing it with other immigration polling and tracking whether the reported net disapproval persists in subsequent surveys, particularly as the administration continues to carry out its immigration agenda and as Congress considers immigration and border-related legislation.
Why It Matters
- Public approval levels for immigration can influence the political and administrative pressure on the administration’s enforcement and policy implementation timelines.
- A reported 10-point decline in approval since the start of the second term indicates that public evaluation of the immigration approach has weakened over time.
- Net disapproval can shape how lawmakers and federal agencies prioritize resources related to border operations and immigration enforcement.
- The survey offers a snapshot of public sentiment that may affect the political context in which immigration legislation and oversight hearings proceed.
Key Facts
- An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey found 39 percent approve of President Donald Trump’s handling of immigration.
- The report says approval is down 10 points from the beginning of Trump’s second term.
- The same survey reported 58 percent disapprove of Trump’s handling of immigration.
- The findings were reported by The Hill on August 3, 2026.
- The poll is framed as a check on public evaluations of Trump’s immigration performance, an issue described as central to his political agenda.