In a striking reversal of political fortune, public backing for one of Donald Trump's signature immigration policies has collapsed, according to a new analysis from CNN's chief data expert. The findings point to a significant erosion of support among moderate voters who feel the former president has misplaced his priorities.
A Dramatic Shift in Public Sentiment
CNN's chief data analyst, Harry Enten, spotlighted what he termed a complete "switcheroo" in how Americans view Trump's aggressive deportation agenda. During a segment on Monday's "News Central," Enten revealed that net support for the policy has nosedived. It has fallen from a net positive of +18 points in February 2025 to a net negative of –8 points today, marking a staggering 26-point swing.
Enten emphasized that this sharp decline is not just a statistical blip but a fundamental change in perception. "The Trump administration and Trump in particular has lost the center of the electorate when it comes to a key component of his administration’s agenda," he stated. This shift indicates that the policy, once broadly marketed, is now alienating the very voters crucial for electoral success.
From Public Safety to Political Liability
Host John Berman noted the origin of the policy's initial appeal. Trump first won support by promising to focus on removing dangerous criminals from the United States. However, the current polling data suggests that most Americans no longer believe the policy is confined to that objective.
Enten directly connected this change in perception to the policy's plummeting approval numbers. As the public's understanding of the policy's scope has evolved, so too has their support for it. This disconnect between the promised action and the perceived reality is a core driver of the backlash.
The Economic Promise That Went Unfulfilled
The analysis delves deeper, linking the immigration policy's unpopularity to a broader voter discontent. Enten connected the sinking approval of deportations to separate survey data showing that 74% of Americans believe Trump has failed to deliver on his central campaign vow to lower prices.
"That is a very dangerous thing," Enten warned. He argued that the electorate's primary motivation for voting for Trump was economic relief. "That’s the reason why the American people really elected Donald Trump — to lower prices — and they think he’s taken his eye off the ball and is too focused on deporting those who are here illegally. And that is very bad politics."
The data paints a clear picture: voters who feel their economic concerns are being sidelined for a contentious social policy are withdrawing their support. This synthesis of issues—immigration enforcement and economic performance—has created a potent political vulnerability for the Trump administration, suggesting a fundamental misreading of the public's current priorities.
