Trump's immigration agenda remains his biggest political strength: What the latest poll shows

US President Donald Trump's immigration continues to be his strongest political issue compared with the economy, healthcare and Iran, according to a new AP-NORC poll. The survey found that while Americans have grown more critical of Trump's immigration policies since the start of his second term, Republican support has remained overwhelmingly strong, helping immigration remain one of his biggest political assets heading into the November midterm elections. Here's what the latest polling shows. According to the AP-NORC poll, 39% of US adults approve of Trump's handling of immigration, down from 49% at the beginning of his second term. Despite the decline, immigration still performs better for Trump than other major issues: -Immigration: 39% approval -Economy: 32% approval -Healthcare: About 30% approval Within the Republican Party, support remains much stronger. About 8 in 10 Republicans approve of Trump's immigration policies, only slightly lower than the roughly 9 in 10 who approved at the beginning of his second term. The poll also found Republican voters rate Trump's handling of immigration more favorably than his management of the economy or the conflict involving Iran. Although immigration remains Trump's strongest issue, many Americans believe his enforcement measures have become excessive. The survey found: -About half of Americans say Trump has gone too far in deporting immigrants living in the US illegally. -Around 47% believe he has exceeded his authority on deportations. -Roughly half also say he has gone too far in restricting legal immigration. Public concern is even stronger over certain enforcement tactics. Most Americans oppose: -Using traffic stops to identify and arrest undocumented immigrants. -Sending large numbers of federal immigration agents into US cities. Republicans, however, are far less likely to view these actions as excessive. The poll also examined public attitudes toward US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). About half of Americans said they disapprove of how ICE is enforcing immigration laws, while only about three in 10 approve. The partisan divide is stark: -About 60% of Republicans approve of ICE's enforcement. -Around 20% of independents approve. -Only 4% of Democrats express approval. The findings come after several high-profile encounters involving ICE officers in July, including incidents in which three people were killed during encounters with immigration authorities. The poll suggests concerns over border security and illegal immigration continue to outweigh controversy surrounding enforcement methods among Republican voters. While immigration remains relatively resilient, Trump's economic ratings have deteriorated significantly. Only 32% of Americans approve of his handling of the economy, compared with 40% at the beginning of his second term. Among Republicans: -69% approve of Trump's economic performance. -That is down from 78% earlier in his presidency. About seven in 10 Americans also describe the US economy as either "somewhat poor" or "very poor." Even supporters acknowledge persistent inflation and rising living costs. Healthcare remains Trump's weakest major policy area. Only about 30% of Americans approve of his handling of healthcare. Republican support has improved—from 59% in December to 71% in the latest poll—but Democrats and independents continue to overwhelmingly disapprove. Healthcare is expected to become a major Democratic campaign issue alongside the cost of living and the conflict involving Iran ahead of the midterm elections. The findings suggest that immigration remains Trump's most durable political advantage even as his overall popularity declines. Although many Americans disapprove of specific immigration enforcement tactics, Republican voters continue to strongly back the president's hardline approach, making immigration one of the few issues where he retains broad support within his political base. With fewer than 100 days before the midterm elections, the poll indicates immigration is likely to remain a central pillar of Trump's campaign strategy, even as concerns over the economy, healthcare and foreign policy present growing political challenges. Stay updated with the latest Trending, India, World and US news. Follow CJP Protest LIVE updates as Sonam Wangchuk ends his 26-day hunger strike following government assurances, while the Jantar Mantar protest continues. Get the latest updates on talks between the CJP delegation and the Centre, the demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, possible arrests, Delhi security measures and developments in Parliament. Oops! Looks like you have exceeded the limit to bookmark the image. Remove some to bookmark this image.