Poll: Most Democrats Back Path to Citizenship for Illegals
A new poll shows 73 percent of Democrats support allowing illegal immigrants to stay and apply for citizenship, while 78 percent of Republicans favor deportation.
Nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters believe illegal aliens currently living in the United States should be permitted to remain in the country and eventually gain access to citizenship, new polling data has revealed.
A survey conducted by the Economist and YouGov asked respondents which option came closest to their view regarding illegal immigrants residing in the U.S., according to Breitbart News.
The results showed a stark partisan divide on immigration enforcement and amnesty policies.
Among Democratic respondents, 73 percent stated that illegal immigrants living in the U.S. should be allowed to stay and eventually apply for citizenship. Only 10 percent said illegal aliens should be allowed to remain but not become citizens, while just 6 percent supported deportation.
Republican voters took the opposite stance. A commanding 78 percent of Republicans said illegal immigrants residing in the U.S. should be deported. Only 11 percent supported allowing them to stay and eventually apply for citizenship.
Independent voters leaned closer to the Democratic position, with 46 percent—a plurality—saying illegal immigrants should stay in the U.S. and eventually apply for citizenship.
Overall, 43 percent of all respondents said illegal immigrants should stay in the U.S. and apply for citizenship, compared to 39 percent who favored deportation. Six percent said they should be allowed to stay but not become citizens, while 11 percent remained unsure.
The survey was conducted from June 13 to 15, 2026, among 1,403 registered voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.
Biden-Era Border Crisis Continues to Generate Criminal Cases
The Democratic preference for allowing illegal aliens to remain and pursue citizenship comes as the Trump administration continues to deal with the fallout from the Biden administration’s lax border policies, which allowed millions of illegal immigrants to enter the country.
Last week, the Department of Justice announced charges against 15 individuals, including 11 illegal aliens, in connection with a benefits fraud scheme. The suspects allegedly stole $1.4 million in food stamps, health benefits, disability benefits, and unemployment benefits in the sanctuary state of Massachusetts.
In a separate case, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials announced the arrest of an illegal alien from El Salvador, Aureliano Antonio Melendez Reyes, who has been accused of raping a 16-year-old girl in Long Island, New York.
The cases underscore ongoing concerns among conservatives and immigration enforcement advocates about the public safety and fiscal consequences of open-border policies.
With information from Breitbart News
