WASHINGTON — A recent Associated Press‑KFF survey of more than 2,000 rural voters shows President Trump’s immigration enforcement remains a dividing issue in America’s heartland. About a third of respondents say the administration’s policies have helped their communities, another third say they have hurt, and roughly 30% say they have made no difference.
Strong support among MAGA‑identified rural voters
The poll highlights that the most loyal segment of Trump’s base – rural voters who identify as MAGA Republicans – are roughly twice as likely as other rural Republicans to view the immigration crackdown as beneficial. Two‑thirds of MAGA respondents say the policies have had a positive impact where they live, and about half believe the administration has not gone far enough in deporting illegal immigrants.
Immigration remains a top issue for rural voters
Three‑quarters of rural respondents say immigration is “extremely” or “very” important to midterm candidates, though the issue trails concerns about the cost of living, government fraud and health‑care costs. While only 40% of rural voters think the President has gone too far restricting legal immigration, that figure is lower than the 55% of all U.S. adults who share that view in a recent AP‑NORC poll.
Voices from the field
John Thomas, a 55‑year‑old from Liberty, Kentucky, praised the crackdown, arguing that stricter immigration rules ease the burden on the health‑care system. “They’ve been taking from everybody,” he said, adding that many Americans who truly need services can’t get them because of illegal immigration.
Conversely, Laura Leigh Taylor, a 37‑year‑old farmer from Smithville, Georgia, expressed regret over her 2024 vote for President Trump after a friend’s father was deported. “I understand getting rid of the rapists and the murderers,” she explained, “but all the people that fell in between really weren’t doing nothing but taking care of their family.” Taylor now says she will support Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.
Economic role of legal immigrants
Despite the split on enforcement, the survey confirms that a strong majority of rural voters recognize the economic importance of legal immigrants. About seven‑in‑ten say immigrants who are in the country legally are “very” or “somewhat” important to local economies, especially in agriculture, manufacturing and health‑care. Seasonal H‑2A workers from Mexico also receive high marks for their contribution to farm labor.
Shannon Monnat, director of the Center for Policy Research at Syracuse University, noted that immigrants have become a demographic lifeline for many small towns, keeping schools and hospitals open and preventing county shrinkage.
Mixed feelings on the pace of enforcement
While many rural voters support the overall direction of the immigration policy, some express concern that the approach is too aggressive. Jeff Miller, a 56‑year‑old vacuum technician from Racine, Ohio, said he appreciates the administration’s agenda but “lost a really good friend” when a work permit expired and the individual was deported. He suggested the government consider exceptions for hard‑working individuals.
Overall, the poll underscores that President Trump’s immigration enforcement continues to energize his core rural base while also prompting criticism from voters who rely on immigrant labor or who have personal ties to those affected by deportations.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
