Voters appear to hold someone inconsistent positions on deporting illegal aliens and sanctuary policies. While voters are equally divided on “sanctuary” states stopping state and local officials from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, by a ten percentage point margin likely voters think these policies jeopardize public safety. Presumably the difference arises from how Americans think the deportation system is operating, so some are willing to put up with to put up with more crime to stop a deportation system then don’t like. It is likely that the media redefining what it means to have a criminal record (excluding those who have been arrested or been convicted of a crime in their home country) and limiting the discussion to only certain violent crimes (excluding drug dealing or kidnapping) has had an impact on these surveys.
Rasmussen Reports’ June 16–18, 2026 survey of 1,058 likely voters found the country almost evenly split on sanctuary policies. Forty-five percent approve, down slightly from 48% in January, while 46% disapprove. Intensity favors opponents: 32% strongly disapprove, compared with 23% who strongly approve.
A majority of voters (51%) also agree with House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, who said: “Sanctuary policies … jeopardize public safety. … Sanctuary policies don’t protect Americans. They protect criminal illegal aliens.” Forty percent disagree. Interestingly, Hispanics most strongly support it (58% to 32%) followed by blacks (53% to 40%), with whites the most evenly divided (48% to 44%). Democrats, other affiliated, and liberals are the groups who disagree with the statement.
Support for deporting criminal illegal immigrants remains very strong. Seventy percent say the federal government should apprehend and deport illegal immigrants who commit crimes in the United States, including 57% who say it is very important. Only 27% say it is not important. Support has declined from 83% a year ago but remains broad. Among voters who consider deporting criminal illegal immigrants very important, 60% strongly oppose sanctuary policies.
Republicans are also the most likely to back deporting criminal illegal immigrants, with 84% calling it important, compared with 65% of independents and 60% of Democrats. Likewise, 69% of Republicans agree with Comer’s statement, versus 42% of independents and 41% of Democrats.
Democrats are the only partisan group in which a majority (55%) supports sanctuary policies. Just 33% of Republicans and 45% of independents approve. Nearly half of Republicans (49%) strongly oppose sanctuary policies, compared with 31% of independents and 18% of Democrats.
Demographic differences are generally modest. Men are somewhat more likely than women to strongly oppose sanctuary policies (37% versus 28%). Large majorities across racial groups—including 71% of whites, 65% of Black voters, 63% of Hispanics, and 66% of other minorities—support deporting illegal immigrants who commit crimes. Hispanic and other minority voters are the most likely to strongly agree with Comer’s statement.
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