Immigration Crackdown Keeps Trump Base While Tariffs Weigh Heavily

(UNITED STATES) A new Washington Post-Ipsos survey published in September 2025 shows that most Americans remain wary of Trump’s policies in his second term, with 56% disapproving and 43% approving of his overall performance. The poll highlights a sharp split over the immigration crackdown and tariffs, two pillars of his agenda that define both his support and his criticism. While his base points to immigration enforcement as the clearest success, broader public opinion shows fatigue with trade fights and concern about the reach of federal power.

Poll snapshot and public mood

Among Trump’s strongest supporters, immigration enforcement stands out. Fifty-five percent of those backers say the immigration crackdown is his most successful policy. No other area—tariffs, cuts to federal agencies and jobs, foreign policy, or his personal style—comes close.

By contrast, the same survey finds that only 4% of all respondents view his tariff approach as a success, underscoring widespread displeasure with trade measures that have touched prices on everyday goods.

Even within immigration, public support is mixed. Overall approval for Trump’s immigration stance hovers in the low 40s, while disapproval frequently crosses the 50% mark in recent polling. The survey tested support for specific actions commonly tied to a hard line on the border and interior enforcement; majorities opposed measures such as:

• suspending most asylum applications
• ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
• expanding workplace raids

Support for large-scale deportation drives has slipped over the year.

Party and independent splits shape the results:

• Republicans: back Trump on the border by wide margins.
• Democrats: largely oppose the approach.
• Independents: tend to split but lean against the scope of enforcement.

This pattern—what energizes core supporters often alarms the rest of the country—creates a durable divide that shapes the wider debate.

Immigration enforcement vs. tariffs

The approval gap between immigration and tariffs is striking. Many respondents credit the immigration crackdown with restoring order or sending a firm message, even as they question certain methods.

At the same time, they blame tariffs for higher prices and supply-chain friction. The survey’s finding that only 4% call tariffs a success matches stories from small retail shops, farm fields, and logistics hubs: people feel the pinch when costs rise and goods arrive late.

On the immigration front, enforcement has taken several visible forms. Respondents reacted to ideas and actions such as:

• stronger border barriers
• quick removals
• limits on asylum
• increased ICE operations within the interior

Some of these steps require complex coordination with federal agencies under the Department of Homeland Security. For example, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations outlines arrest, detention, and removal processes that directly affect families and employers. Readers can review official guidance on enforcement priorities at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations page.

Across the economy, workers and employers report uncertainty brought on by tariffs on imported goods:

• Hardware stores, auto repair shops, and manufacturers cite parts shortages and price hikes.
• Independents and Democrats show broad disapproval of tariff policy.
• Some Republicans also worry about farm exports and factory inputs.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the political reward for the trade fights appears limited compared with the cost Americans feel at checkout lines.

The poll also captures weak ratings for other areas:

• Cuts to federal agencies and jobs: only 5%–7% label this a success.
• Foreign policy and presidential style: similarly low success ratings.

This cluster signals doubts about governance style as much as substance; voters uneasy with turbulence in federal agencies tend to see it as disruption rather than reform.

Implications for immigrants and employers

For immigrant families, the public mood matters. While polls do not set policy, they inform how far the White House and Congress may push enforcement or legal changes.

When disapproval rises on actions like suspending asylum or expanding raids, it can:

• slow new proposals
• drive court challenges
• tilt negotiations on spending and border authorities

Families facing mixed-status situations watch these shifts closely—especially when a parent worries about a traffic stop, an I-9 audit at work, or the loss of humanitarian protections.

The survey suggests greater public support for targeted steps—for example, focusing on people with serious criminal records—than for broad actions that sweep in long-settled residents. That distinction has real-life effects:

• Schools, hospitals, and local police report increased fear when enforcement feels indiscriminate.
• Some families keep children home from class or skip medical visits.
• Faith groups and community clinics see more requests for legal referrals and emergency planning.

Employers face their own pressures. Key concerns include:

• Tariffs that raise costs and complicate planning for companies dependent on cross-border supply chains.
• Sudden worker shortages if enforcement ramps up—industries affected include agriculture, construction, hospitality, and elder care.
• Operational disruptions from audits and raids, even for employers who use E-Verify and follow hiring rules.

Policy professionals note the intersection between immigration and trade: higher prices for imported materials can push companies to delay expansion, reducing hiring across the board—including for U.S. citizens and green card holders. In short, the intended pressure abroad can translate into uncertainty at home in the United States 🇺🇸.

Practical steps for affected people and employers

For people affected by enforcement or policy shifts, the practical steps remain consistent:

• Keep records organized.
• Stay in touch with a trusted attorney or accredited representative.
• Watch for official updates from DHS and USCIS.
• Prepare a simple safety plan if you or a family member may be at risk during enforcement actions.
• Make sure children’s school contacts and medical needs are documented.

For employers:

• Invest in training for HR teams.
• Review I-9 procedures and document compliance.
• Set clear protocols for any government visit to a job site.

Key takeaway

The latest polling delivers a clear conclusion: the immigration crackdown remains the rally point for supporters, while tariffs are the drag on Trump’s broader standing. Everything else—agency cuts, foreign policy, and personal style—trails far behind.

The public’s lived experience, from store shelves to school pickup lines, explains why voters may accept stricter screening at the border if they feel safer, but resist paying more each week at the grocery store and hardware counter.