Texas Divided: New Poll Reveals Sharp Split Over Trump's Immigration Policies

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McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) A newly released poll on Wednesday reveals that Texas voters are evenly divided over the immigration policies enacted during President Donald Trump’s tenure.

According to a psychologist, individuals who cross the border daily experience depression, anxiety, and suffer from sleep disturbances.

The survey indicates that 51% of Texans support Trump’s immigration strategies and enforcement measures, while 49% express disapproval, as outlined in the report, “Texas Trends 2025 Trump Administration Immigration Policies.”

This comprehensive statewide poll was carried out between September 19 and October 1 by the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs in collaboration with the Executive Master of Public Administration program at Texas Southern University’s Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs.

The findings also highlight an even 50-50 split among Texans regarding approval or disapproval of the Trump administration’s policy permitting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to increase workplace raids.

Other findings from the poll include:

90% of Republicans and 13% of Democrats approve of the Trump administration’s approach to immigration.
62% of white Texans, 42% of Latino Texans and 23% of Black Texans approve of Trump immigration policies.
90% of Republicans and 24% of Democrats approve of the state’s decision to end the DREAM Act. Of those approving: 60% are white; 50% Latino and 38% Black.
46% of Texans think Trump’s immigration policies will lead to a reduction in crime in the state; 25% think it will increase crimes and 29% think it will have no impact.
47% of Texans think Trump’s immigration policies will weaken the Texas economy; 41% think it will make it stronger, and 12% say it will have no impact.
58% approve of Trump’s deployment of U.S. military to the U.S.-Mexico border, while 42% disapprove.
54% approve of state and local law enforcement used to help with immigration enforcement, while 46% disapprove.
Texans were closely split — 51% approving and 49% disapproving — on whether the Trump administration should increase detention facilities for immigrants who are living in the country illegally and waiting immigration hearings.

“As residents of a border state, Texans are long familiar with immigration as a political and law enforcement issue,” Renée Cross, UH researcher and senior executive director of the Hobby School, said in a statement. “And while a sizeable number of voters disapprove of some of the federal government’s efforts to staunch illegal entry, overall, we found strong support for actions to limit immigration.”

A Texas National Guardsman places concertina wire on the banks of the Rio Grande. (DPS Photo)

“Men were 13 percentage points more likely than women to approve of President Trump’s immigration policies, at 58% to 45%,” said Michael Adams, director of the Executive Master of Public Administration graduate program at Texas Southern University. “White voters were similarly more likely to approve than Latino or Black voters.”

“Limiting asylum was the least popular of the policies included in the survey,” said Pablo Pinto, director of the Center for Public Policy at the Hobby School. “People may want something done about illegal immigration, but they are perhaps less comfortable with ending the ability of most people from around the world to apply for asylum.”

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.