19 JUNE 2020
New Battleground Poll: Relentless Efforts to Deport Dreamers Jeopardizes Vote for President Trump
Majority of Voters in Battleground States, Including Swing and Republican Voters, Support Citizenship for Dreamers
WASHINGTON - Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to block President Trump’s termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program - and Trump's new pledge to end DACA today, a new poll finds large bipartisan support in twelve battleground states to provide a path to citizenship to Dreamers. Additionally, the majority of voters surveyed had doubts about voting for President Donald Trump due to his support for the deportation of Dreamers.
The poll, commissioned by America’s Voice, FWD.us, and the Immigration Hub, was conducted May 27 - June 3 (before the Supreme Court announcement) by Global Strategy Group and surveyed 1,504 likely voters across twelve battleground states. Consistent with previous polling, a majority of voters support a solution to provide citizenship for Dreamers, instead of deporting them. Among the primary findings:
72% of voters support citizenship for Dreamers, including 72% of swing voters, 88% of Democrats, 69% of Independents, and 57% of Republicans.
President Trump’s support for deportation of Dreamers raises “major doubts” with 51% of voters, including 51% of swing voters, making it his top vulnerability on the issue of immigration among a variety of messages tested.
"Voters in the battlegrounds hold positive views of DREAMers and support citizenship by massive numbers,” stated Nick Gourevitch, Partner and Managing Director at Global Strategies Group. “Should Trump renew his effort to deport DREAMers, it will be a clear vulnerability for the President in November."
The Supreme Court’s ruling granted a temporary reprieve for Dreamers as President Trump seeks to potentially threaten the DACA program again. Through the program, over 700,000 Dreamers have been able to remain with their families and continue to study and work, contributing to their local communities and national economy.
"Americans across the country are sick and tired of this President’s continued efforts to end DACA and deport Dreamers,” stated Alida Garcia FWD.us, Vice President of Advocacy. “The Supreme Court rejected his illegal efforts to end DACA and the American people reject his hateful policies toward Dreamers. The President needs to stop trying to destroy these people’s lives and leave DACA alone. He lost. It’s time to move on.”
"President Trump's strategy has always been clear: weaponize immigration to energize his base and appeal to swing voters," added Tyler Moran, Executive Director of the Immigration Hub. "But it didn’t work in the 2018 midterms and it's not working now. Voters across the spectrum have consistently supported a humane and fair solution for Dreamers, not chaotic or cruel policy-making. Trump’s continued desire to end DACA, despite the Supreme Court decision, is a political liability that he and other Republicans who have stood by him, such as Senators Gardner, McSally and Tillis, will have to deal with come November."
As the number of coronavirus cases increase, Dreamers have been essential in addressing the ongoing public health crisis and maintaining critical industries. Currently, more than 200,000 DACA-recipients are working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, including 30,000 health care workers.
According to Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice, “On one side stands the American people. On the other side stands President Trump. He is the obstacle that stands between the vast majority of the American people and the permanent solution Dreamers and their many supporters want. In 2017, he ended DACA for no good reason. In 2017 and ‘18, he promised to support and then torpedoed bipartisan proposals to resolve the crisis he manufactured. When federal courts consistently held that the administration ended DACA in an unlawful manner, Trump insisted the case be expedited to the Supreme Court where the conservative majority reigns. Now, Trump has the temerity to blame Democrats? At any point, Trump could have and should have reversed his decision, pulled the case from before the Supreme Court, or accepted one of the many bipartisan deals offered. He’s done none of these. He still thinks that threatening the futures of young Americans is good policy and good politics. It’s not. It’s cruel, bigoted and cynical -- the watchwords of Trump’s presidency.”
Methodology
Global Strategy Group conducted an online survey of 1,504 across 12 battleground states (FL, PA, WI, MI, IA, GA, NC, AZ, NH, NV, MN, and CO) between May 27 - June 3, 2020. The survey had a confidence interval of +/-2.5%. All interviews were conducted via web-based panel. Care has been taken to ensure the geographic and demographic divisions of the population of the likely electorate are properly represented.
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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.