Donald Trump has pledged to initiate the largest mass deportation in U.S. history on the very first day of his presidency, a move that many voters eagerly anticipate.
In a survey of 1,009 registered voters, when asked for a single word to describe their reaction, the top response was: Good.
This sentiment was captured in the latest poll conducted by J.L. Partners for DailyMail.com, released just before Trump’s inauguration set for Monday.
The poll revealed that a significant majority of voters believe that addressing illegal immigration and deportations should be Trump’s top priority upon taking office.
The initiation of mass deportations was deemed the most critical by 23 percent of those surveyed.
Following this, sealing a peace agreement with Ukraine was important to seven percent of respondents, while six percent prioritized the abolition of tax on tips, one of Trump’s notable campaign promises.
James Johnson, co-founder of J.L. Partners, said the unity was striking.
‘Right now, America is more united than it ever has been on mass deportations,’ he said.
J.L. Partners polled 1,009 registered voters and asked for their one-word assessment of Trump’s plans for the biggest mass deportation in the nation’s history
U.S. Border Patrol agents and workers use concrete to seal an illegal tunnel crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, January 16, 2025
‘Only four in 10 Democrats—perceived as being more pro-migration—say no-one should be sent back.
‘It is also the thing that Americans are most eager to see happen on Day One of a Trump presidency: Trump will need to prioritise and deliver it if he is to meet the expectations of his voters.’
Trump has promised to start with illegal migrants guilty of crime for his round-up.
Voters also have priorities for which nationalities should be targeted.
Some 30 percent list them in the top three nationalities to be deported, followed by Venezuelans on 26 percent, and people from El Salvador on 21 percent.
There is support for the U.S. armed forces to play a role in the deportations (46 percent in favor and 33 percent against), but family separations are more divisive (with 36 percent in favor and the same proportion against), with roughly the same equal divide between those in favor of deporting people who have been in the country for a decade or more.
The results chime with other recent polls which have found that respondents are in favor of deportations.
Democrats have a more negative view of mass deportations but still offer some positive reflections with ‘good’ appearing as the third most prominent answer
Donald Trump’s official portrait was unveiled in the days ahead of the inauguration
But that support dwindles when questions are framed with other details, such as whether to deport people who have been in the country for longer periods of time, and who have settled families.
The border crisis dominated Biden’s years in office and Republicans frequently capitalised by claiming his administration had opened the border (comments which at the same time encouraged more migrants to head for the U.S.)
And it was one of the top issues for voters when it came to the election.
Trump made it the centerpiece of his campaign.
The architect of his plan, Stephen Miller, recently said the deportations would happen at ‘light speed.’
‘The moment that President Trump puts his hand on that Bible and takes the oath of office, the occupation ends; Liberation Day begins,’ he said on Fox News.
‘He will immediately sign executive orders sealing the border shut, beginning the largest deportation operation in American history, finding the criminal gangs, rapists, drug dealers and monsters that have murdered our citizens and sending them home.’
Johnson said it leaves Trump under pressure to act but facing a potential public backlash if voters think it has gone too far.
‘When the policy lands, we may see America split on the divides we have become used to in public opinion,’ he said. ‘But one thing is clear: the voters who brought Trump back into the Oval Office want it done.’
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