Anaya Nolan
Immigration has been a contentious issue in the United States for decades, with both Democratic and Republican administrations enacting and proposing immigration laws and policies that have been criticised as inhumane and ineffective. While the Trump administration pursued the harshest crackdown on immigrants since World War II, with policies that aroused vehement opposition from Democrats, it is important to note that immigration laws have been a point of contention across multiple presidential terms. The Biden administration, for example, received criticism for its handling of immigration, with a particular focus on the southern border. Democrats have traditionally been less likely than Republicans to advocate for controlling and reducing illegal immigration, instead focusing on paths to legal status for undocumented immigrants. However, in recent years, there has been a shift, with some Democrats expressing more conservative views on immigration, prioritising border security and deportations. This shift has been reflected in the voting patterns, with some traditionally Democratic districts shifting towards Trump and the Republican Party.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Immigration laws created by Democrats | Bipartisan immigration reform bills passed by Senate Democrats in 2006 and 2013, which would have expanded legal immigration and created pathways to citizenship for millions, were blocked by House Republican majorities. |
| In 2019, 10 Democratic presidential candidates were asked if they wanted to decriminalize illegal border crossings, and only one raised their hand. | |
| Conservative and moderate Democrats are more likely than liberal Democrats to prioritize restrictive immigration goals, such as increased border security and deportations. | |
| Liberal Democrats are the most supportive of creating legal pathways for undocumented immigrants and are less supportive of restrictive goals. | |
| Democrats are more likely than Republicans to prioritize legal status and pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, especially those who entered as children. | |
| The Trump administration's harsh crackdown on immigrants since World War II is viewed as a national crisis by many Democrats. | |
| The Biden administration's handling of immigration, including the expansion of parole authority in 2023, has received criticism. | |
| Democrats have denounced certain Trump administration policies, such as family separation, as cruel and inhumane. | |
| The Immigration Act of 1924 (Johnson-Reed Act) restricted immigration based on race and nationality, excluding Asians and violating a prior agreement with Japan. | |
| The 1917 Immigration Act was the first widely restrictive law, implementing literacy tests, increased taxes for new immigrants, and excluding those from the "Asiatic Barred Zone." |
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What You'll Learn
Democrats favour immigration reform, including a path to citizenship
Democrats and Republicans have differing priorities when it comes to immigration policy. While Republicans tend to favour more restrictive immigration policies, such as increased border security and deportations, Democrats are more supportive of creating pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
Liberal Democrats, in particular, are the most supportive of establishing a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants. They are also the least supportive of restrictive immigration goals. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 85% of liberal Democrats believe that creating a way for most undocumented immigrants to stay in the country legally is an important goal, with 44% considering it very important. This view is shared by three-quarters of conservative and moderate Democrats.
In contrast, only about three-tenths of conservative Republicans consider a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants as an important goal. While Republicans prioritize border security and deportations, Democrats focus on providing legal status to those who entered the country illegally, especially those who came as children.
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs found that large proportions of Democrats support policies that improve and expand the ability of immigrants to legally enter and stay in the United States. Self-identified liberal Democrats are more likely to favour policies such as creating pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants (90%) and establishing a way for them to stay legally (87%). Moderate and conservative Democrats also largely support these policies (74% and 68%, respectively).
Democrats have attempted comprehensive immigration reform in the past. In 2006 and 2013, Senate Democrats passed bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bills that would have expanded legal immigration and created pathways to citizenship for millions. However, these efforts were blocked by House Republican majorities.
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Republicans prioritise border security and deportations
Republicans and Democrats have differing priorities when it comes to immigration policy. While Democrats focus on creating paths to legal status for undocumented immigrants, Republicans prioritize border security and the deportation of immigrants who are in the country illegally.
Conservative Republicans are the most vocal supporters of stricter immigration policies, including heightened border security and increased deportations. In contrast, liberal Democrats are the least supportive of these restrictive goals, instead favoring the creation of a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants.
Around 82% of conservative Republicans believe that increased border security is a critical goal for US immigration policy, compared to around 54% of moderate and liberal Republicans. Similarly, about 58% of conservative Republicans consider increasing deportations of undocumented immigrants to be a top priority, while only about 34% of moderate and liberal Republicans share this view.
On the other hand, only about 22% of Democrats and Democratic leaners consider border security to be of utmost importance, a significant difference from the 72% of Republicans who hold this view. When it comes to deportations, 39% of Democrats see them as important, with just 12% considering them very important.
The Trump administration has been particularly focused on immigration enforcement, with policies that have resulted in family separations and the deportation of even lawfully present immigrants, as in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Trump's "big, beautiful bill" proposes allocating $170 billion for immigration enforcement, drawing criticism for potentially leading to more raids, disrupting the economy, and restricting access to asylum.
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Democrats lost voter trust on immigration
Democrats have traditionally been less likely than Republicans to view controlling and reducing illegal immigration as a very important goal. However, in recent years, Democrats have become more focused on the issue, with moderate Democrats in particular expressing concern. This shift may be due to the perception that the Democratic Party's more liberal immigration policies have led to a loss of voter trust.
In 2019, during a primary debate, 10 Democratic presidential candidates were asked if they wanted to decriminalize illegal border crossings, and only one raised their hand. This moment has been described as a "vivid demonstration" of the Democratic Party's leftward shift on immigration, which many of its lawmakers and strategists now regret. The party's liberal border policies, which were once used to court Latino voters, may have backfired, as working-class Latinos have increasingly supported a more punitive approach to illegal immigration.
The Trump administration's harsh crackdown on immigrants, which included measures such as separating children from their parents, was denounced by Democrats as cruel and inhumane. However, it is worth noting that Trump's anti-immigration stance helped him win the presidency in 2016, indicating that a significant portion of the American electorate supported his position.
Since then, voter trust in the Democratic Party on immigration has declined. In 2017, Democrats enjoyed an 11% advantage over Republicans on the issue, but by January 2025, that advantage had reversed, with Republicans favored by 22%. This shift may be due to the perception that the Democratic Party has failed to effectively address the challenges posed by immigration, including the situation at the border.
To regain voter trust, Democrats must offer a clear and compelling vision for immigration reform that addresses the concerns of voters. While liberal Democrats tend to prioritize creating pathways to legalization and citizenship for undocumented immigrants, conservative and moderate Democrats are more likely to emphasize the importance of border security and deportations. By developing a comprehensive and balanced approach that takes into account the diverse views within their party, Democrats can work to rebuild trust with voters on the issue of immigration.
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Trump's anti-immigration stance won him votes
While Donald Trump's anti-immigrant stance has been criticised for relying on falsehoods about migration and for being rooted in xenophobia and white supremacy, it has nonetheless won him votes. Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric has made inroads with some Democrats, including Hispanic voters. For example, a 52-year-old Hispanic small business owner from Eagle Pass, Texas, Gracie Martinez, who once voted for Barack Obama, now backs Trump, mainly because of his stance on the border.
Trump's anti-immigration stance has also been reflected in his policy proposals. The Trump administration has pursued the harshest crackdown on immigrants since World War II, which many Democrats view as a national crisis. Trump has threatened to drastically tighten immigration restrictions and has proposed banning asylum and separating families at the border. These proposals have been widely rejected by voters. However, Trump's stance has tapped into a shift in public sentiment towards immigration. In 2025, 55% of Americans told Gallup that they supported a decrease in immigration, nearly twice as many as in 2020. This shift includes not only white voters but also working-class Latinos, a demographic that Democrats have traditionally courted with liberal border policies.
Trump's anti-immigration stance has also been reflected in his rhetoric, which has included falsehoods about migration and accusations against Biden. Trump has characterised record-high arrests for southwest border crossings as an "invasion" orchestrated by Democrats to transform America's makeup. He has also accused Biden of purposely allowing criminals and potential terrorists to enter the country unchecked, claiming the president is engaged in a "conspiracy to overthrow the United States of America".
Trump's anti-immigration stance has been effective in winning him votes, particularly among those concerned about border security and immigration. However, it has also faced opposition and criticism from those who view his policies and rhetoric as cruel, inhumane, and out of step with American values.
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Democrats face a challenge to win back the House
Democrats face a formidable challenge to win back the House in 2026 and the White House in 2028. The party's stance on immigration has been a source of contention, with a leftward policy shift that many prominent Democratic lawmakers now regret. The challenge is made more difficult by the shift in voter trust on immigration from favoring Democrats by +11% in 2017 to favoring Republicans by +22% in January 2025.
The Trump administration's harsh crackdown on immigrants has been a significant concern for Democrats, who view it as a national crisis. The separation of children from their parents at the border and the use of emergency public health measures to close the southern border during the Covid-19 pandemic aroused vehement opposition from Democrats. However, the party has struggled to present a coherent alternative vision, and their attempts at bipartisan immigration reform have failed.
Democrats need to offer a fundamentally different vision from the restrictionist one. They must stand up for the basic rights of immigrant families and present a coherent plan that addresses border security and provides a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. While conservative and moderate Democrats prioritize border security and deportations, liberal Democrats are more supportive of creating pathways to legalization for undocumented immigrants. This ideological difference within the party makes it challenging to present a unified front on immigration.
To win back the House, Democrats must address the concerns of their base while also appealing to a broader electorate. They need to acknowledge the failures of the past and present a clear and honest plan for the future. This includes recognizing the importance of border security while also advocating for the rights of immigrants and providing a pathway to legal status, especially for those brought to the country as children.
The challenge for Democrats is to strike a balance between addressing the concerns of their liberal base and appealing to a broader electorate that may have differing views on immigration. By presenting a coherent and compassionate plan that addresses border security and provides a pathway to citizenship, Democrats can work towards winning back the House and offering a much-needed alternative vision on immigration.
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