Voters Disapprove of Republican Governors Transporting Immigrants Out of State
By Sabrina Jacobs and Evangel Penumaka
In the last weeks of September, the actions of Republican governors transporting immigrants from Texas, Florida, and Arizona dominated the news media.
A new Data for Progress poll of 1,213 likely voters examined what voters think about these governors’ actions. A majority of voters are aware of Republican governors transporting immigrants out of their states, and a plurality of voters disapprove and think they should face consequences.
First, voters were asked how much they had heard or read about Republican governors transporting immigrants to Democratic-led states and cities. Seventy-seven percent of voters have heard about the issue, while 23 percent have heard nothing at all.
Awareness remains high across partisanship: 79 percent of Democrats, 75 percent of Independents, and 76 percent of Republicans have heard about the issue.
After we provided respondents with more information, we asked them whether they approve or disapprove of the Republican governors transporting immigrants to Democratic-led states and cities. A plurality of voters disapprove of the actions taken by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis by a -7-point margin, with 48 percent disapproving and 41 percent approving. Democrats disapprove of their actions by a -66-point margin and Independents disapprove by a -5-point margin. In contrast, Republican voters approve of the governors’ actions by a +52-point margin.
Voters were also asked if they believed Republican governors were wrong for their actions and should face consequences. Forty-seven percent of voters believe it's wrong for Republican governors to transport immigrants out of state, including 77 percent of Democrats and 43 percent of Independents. However, 70 percent of Republicans think that the governors acted appropriately.
While Republican voters split with Democrats and Independents, a plurality of voters overall disapprove of Republican governors transporting immigrants to Democratic-led states and cities, and believe the governors responsible should face consequences.
Immigrants in America are under threat from more than just Republican rhetoric; many are also at risk of losing their ability to remain in the U.S. A federal appeals court recently ruled that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is unconstitutional, threatening the future of thousands of immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children. Our polling last year found that a majority of voters support a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers.
Republicans’ inhumane immigration policies are just one of many reasons why it’s important that people vote in the midterm elections. One way to hold Abbott and DeSantis accountable for their actions is by voting them out of office.
Sabrina Jacobs is a digital fellow at Data for Progress.
Evangel Penumaka is a lead analyst at Data for Progress.