A Fox News poll released on September 14, 2026 reveals that 53% of registered voters think the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement has gone too far. That sentiment has held steady since June 2025, according to the survey’s own trend data.
Partisan divide drives the numbers
The poll shows a stark partisan split. Among Democrats, 87% say enforcement has overreached, while 60% of independents share that view. Republicans are far more divided: 40% think enforcement is not far enough, and 43% say it is about right.
When asked why enforcement has gone too far, respondents were almost evenly split – 45% blame the government for using too much force, and 49% say the wrong people are being targeted.
Trump’s immigration approval rating dips
President Trump’s approval rating on immigration stands at 43%, a decline from a high of 48% recorded last summer. The poll notes that for the past four years, voters consistently believed Republicans would handle immigration better than Democrats, but that advantage has narrowed dramatically. Voter preference is now essentially tied, with 48% favoring Democrats and 49% favoring Republicans on the issue.
Independents are leaning toward the Democrats by six points, and 15% of Republicans who do not identify as MAGA say they would back Democratic immigration policies.
Birthright citizenship remains popular
In a related finding, 63% of voters support granting automatic citizenship to a child born in the United States to an illegal immigrant. Support has softened from earlier peaks of 67‑69% but remains well above the 45% low recorded in 2006. Party lines persist: roughly nine in ten Democrats and six in ten independents favor birthright citizenship, while six in ten Republicans oppose it.
Hispanic voter attitudes
Among Hispanic voters, two‑thirds disapprove of President Trump’s overall job performance and his handling of immigration. This group trusts Democrats over Republicans on immigration by a 19‑point margin, and 60% say enforcement has gone too far.
Three‑quarters of Hispanic respondents also believe citizenship should be guaranteed for those born in the U.S. to illegal immigrant parents.
Methodology
The survey was conducted September 11‑14, 2026 by Beacon Research (Democratic‑leaning) and Shaw & Company Research (Republican‑leaning). It interviewed 1,211 registered voters selected randomly from a national voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (96) and cell phones (821) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (294). The full‑sample margin of error is ±3 percentage points; subgroup margins are higher. Weights were applied to age, race, education, and area to reflect the registered voter population.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
