Trump is winning on immigration – and Democrats are falling right into his trap
Liberals are freaking out, but the reality is that President Donald Trump is following through on his promise to restore safety at the southern border and to deport illegal immigrants.
President Donald Trump, in a June 15 social media post, called for amping up his deportation agenda, demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials 'do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.'
Trump singled out large Democratic-run cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, which have made themselves havens for illegal immigrants, even as local leaders have struggled to handle the influx.
Trump timed his missive shortly after nationwide 'No Kings' protests that in part criticized his immigration agenda, as well as the chaotic and violent protests in Los Angeles this month in response to ICE raids.
Opinion: Democrats scream democracy is in peril ... while proving that it's absolutely fine
Liberals may be freaking out, but the reality is that Trump is following through on his promises to restore safety at the southern border and to deport as many illegal immigrants as possible. It was one of the pivotal reasons Trump won a second term.
And the majority of the country is still on the president's side.
Polling confirms Americans want Trump to fulfill immigration agenda
Immigration remains Trump's strongest issue. A recent NBC News Decision Desk poll found that 51% of Americans approve of Trump's handling of border security and immigration; 49% disapprove.
The poll was conducted while Trump was sending in the National Guard and Marines to help contain rioting in LA.
Similarly, a CBS News/YouGov poll from earlier in June found the majority of Americans side with Trump's deportation agenda.
In that survey, 54% said they approve of the administration's program to deport illegal immigrants, and the largest group – 42% – say these policies are making the country safer.
Opinion: Hey, Democrats, LA riots make Americans like me glad Trump is president
However, while 55% of those surveyed say they like Trump's deportation goals, just 44% like the way Trump is fulfilling that agenda.
The gap between approval of Trump's goals versus his execution of those goals is seen in other areas, too, including the economy.
Let's face it: Trump is Trump, and he's consistent in his unpredictability and bravado. Voters should have known by this point what they were getting.
Yet, for the most part, he is standing firm on his immigration goals.
Within weeks, Trump had effectively closed the border that former President Joe Biden had opened wide. Monthly border encounters have dropped to record lows, to fewer than 10,000 a month from more than 100,000 a year ago.
That means far fewer migrants face deportation after illegally entering the United States. So while Trump is getting all the Democratic outrage, his deportation numbers as of late May remain below Biden's during a similar period of time. And former President Barack Obama – darling of the left – maintains the title of 'deporter in chief.'
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Are Democrats OK? They keep getting arrested to protest Trump.
But why let facts get in the way of feelings?
Through protests, riots and civil disobedience, Democrats have put their feelings on full display lately. Even public officials are getting in on the performance art. In recent weeks, a growing number of people in power have decided it is politically expedient to interfere directly with the work of immigration officers.
For their disobedience, these Democrats have been handcuffed or charged, which seems to have been what they wanted in the first place.
The latest example is New York City comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander, who was arrested June 17 'after he linked arms with a person authorities were attempting to detain' in federal immigration court.
Members of Congress, a Wisconsin judge and a mayor also have joined the ranks of those flouting the law.
To what end, though, given Trump is doing what voters want him to do?
Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store.
It's also worth noting that while progressives want you to think Trump's approval as president has tanked beyond repair, his 46.4% approval rating is higher than where Obama (45.8%) and former President George W. Bush (45.6%) were at this point in their second terms.
From transgender athletes in women's sports to halting illegal immigration, Democrats keep finding themselves on the wrong side of issues that Americans care about.
Good for Trump for getting it right.
Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or on X, formerly Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques
You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.
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