Nearly six in ten Texans support using both local law enforcement and U.S. military troops to secure the southern border and reduce illegal immigration, according to a new poll from the University of Houston and Texas Southern University.
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A recent statewide survey released Wednesday reveals that nearly sixty percent of Texans support the deployment of law enforcement officers and U.S. military troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to address illegal immigration.
The poll, conducted by the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs, in collaboration with Texas Southern University’s Barbara Jordan–Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, reveals that a significant 58% of Texans are in favor of deploying the U.S. military to bolster border security efforts. A substantial 54% support the involvement of state and local police in assisting with immigration detention initiatives.
A recent survey, carried out in both English and Spanish from September 19 to October 1, engaged approximately 1,650 adults via YouGov. The results have a margin of error of ±2.41%.
Immigration stands as a cornerstone of President Donald Trump’s political agenda, with his second-term administration intensifying enforcement measures, notably through ICE operations in workplaces and educational institutions. Trump's decision to deploy National Guard units to cities governed by Democrats, including Portland, Oregon, and Chicago, Illinois, sparked significant debate and legal challenges. This week, an important decision from a federal appeals court has paved the way for the administration to send Oregon National Guard troops to Portland.
In Texas, a state that has consistently backed Trump in his presidential bids, there is robust support for military engagement at the border. “Living in a border state, Texans have a profound understanding of immigration as both a political and law enforcement matter,” stated Renée Cross, senior executive director of the Hobby School. “Despite a significant portion of the electorate expressing discontent with certain federal measures aimed at curbing illegal entry, our findings reveal a robust backing for initiatives designed to restrict immigration.”
The survey reveals significant divisions along partisan and demographic lines. A striking 90% of Republicans express approval for Trump’s immigration policies, in stark contrast to a mere 13% of Democrats and 39% of independents who share the same sentiment. Support levels reveal a significant disparity, with 62% of White Texans expressing approval, compared to 42% of Latino Texans and a mere 23% of Black Texans. Men are 13 points more likely than women to approve of the administration's approach.
In Texas, there is a close divide in public sentiment regarding Trump's immigration policies, with 51% approving and 49% disapproving. According to Mark P. Jones, a political science fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, support has waned since the initial months of his second term.
“The administration has found itself ensnared by the very achievements it sought to celebrate,” Jones remarked. “With a decline in illegal crossings, the matter seems to have diminished in urgency, leading some Americans to shift their focus to other concerns.”
The impact of Trump's immigration policies divided Texans' opinions. Nearly half of the respondents believe the policies will reduce crime, whereas a slightly larger percentage expresses concern that these initiatives may negatively affect the state's economy.
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