CNN’s own data analyst just dropped a truth bomb that has to be setting off alarm bells inside Democratic strategy rooms: Donald Trump’s approval on immigration hasn’t just rebounded—it’s surged, and the numbers spell trouble for the party still struggling to explain open borders, sanctuary cities, and riots in the streets.
According to Harry Enten, CNN’s chief data analyst, Trump’s net approval rating on immigration has skyrocketed from a dismal -21 points during his first term to +1 in the aggregate today, with some polls showing even stronger numbers. Enten didn’t mince words—it’s the single issue where Trump has improved the most with voters. And that’s no coincidence.
Why Trump’s eager for an immigration fight: His net approval is positive (+1 pt) & up like a rocket vs. term 1.
Specific Approval:
-54% for Trump’s deportation program for those here illegally
-51% of ICE searchesVoters also say Dems have no clue on immigration (GOP +10). pic.twitter.com/IdHaPx8Ud4
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) June 9, 2025
The numbers speak volumes. Trump’s immigration agenda—one that was once vilified by the press and political establishment alike—is now resonating with voters across party lines. Why? Because people are watching what’s unfolding in real time. From ICE agents being assaulted in Los Angeles to bridges being blocked in Dallas and Austin, the country is witnessing chaos, and more Americans are beginning to ask a simple question: Who’s actually enforcing the law?
Enten laid out some specifics that must have left CNN anchors clutching their notepads:
- 54% of Americans support Trump’s plan to deport illegal immigrants.
- A majority back immigration agents searching towns for undocumented individuals.
- Republicans overall are now trusted more than Democrats on immigration policy.
This isn’t abstract theory. These are cold, hard, voter-tested positions—and they reflect a public that is increasingly fed up with open-border rhetoric and progressive sanctuary fantasies.
Democrats, meanwhile, are busy picking fights with the National Guard, opposing ICE raids, and defending mayors who are more concerned with political optics than public safety. And every time a sanctuary city turns into a battleground, it strengthens Trump’s argument: that lawlessness is being tolerated—or worse, encouraged—by the left.
And Trump? He’s not backing down. He’s leaning in. As Enten aptly put it, “Trump is begging for a fight on this,” because he knows it’s a winning issue. It’s not 2016 anymore—Americans have seen the effects of inaction. They’ve seen the caravans, the fentanyl crises, the overwhelmed border towns, and now the urban protests aimed at federal enforcement.
In contrast, Trump’s message is simple: enforce the law, secure the border, restore order.
