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KFF/NYT Poll Finds Immigrant Fear and Hardship Rising Under Trump’s Second Term

A nationally representative survey of 1,805 immigrants conducted Aug. 28–Oct. 20 captures a broad shift since 2023 in how enforcement is affecting daily life.

Overview

  • Forty-one percent now fear detention or deportation, up from 26% in 2023, and 22% personally know someone arrested, detained, or deported since January.
  • About half of immigrants say they feel less safe since January, and three in ten report avoiding travel, work, public spaces, or medical care because of enforcement fears.
  • Health impacts are widespread, with 40% reporting negative effects tied to immigration worries and 77% among likely undocumented immigrants; skipped or delayed care rose to 29%.
  • Economic strain has intensified, as about half report difficulty paying for housing, food, or health care, up from 31% in 2023, and many say earning a living has become harder.
  • Immigration policies are shaping politics for immigrant voters, with nearly six in ten reporting an effect on party support and more shifting away from Republicans (36%) than toward them (19%), even as 70% say they would choose to come to the U.S. again.