Texas Public Opinion on Donald Trump, Immigration, Border Security as the President Visits El Paso

President Donald Trump’s first visit to Texas of 2019 comes as another partial government shutdowwn looms, and as Trump’s demand for funding for a wall or similar barriers continues to meet resistance from congressional Democrats led by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Trump will hold a rally in El Paso as opponents hold a counter-rally that will feature speeches by Beto O’Rourke and newly-elected congresswoman Veronica Escobar.

Below find relevant results from the most recent University of Texas / Texas Tribune Poll that provide context for Trump’s reception upon his return to Texas, and his continued emphasis on immigration and the border with Mexico.

57 percent of Texas Republicans say the Trump administration has not gone far enough enforcing federal immigration laws.

 

87 percent of Texas Republicans approve of how Trump has handled immigration and border security; 77 percent of Democrats disapprove strongly.

 

54 percent of Texans say undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States should be deported immediately. This includes 81 percent of Republicans, 23 percent of Democrats, and 57 percent of true independents.

 

66 percent of Texas Republicans and 49 percent of independents say the U.S. allows too many people to immigrate from other countries.

 

62 percent of Republicans, 29 percent of independents, and 11 percent of Democrats cite immigration or border security as the most important problem facing Texas.

 

Views of Trump’s personal traits remain deeply polarized along party lines.  

 

Trump's job approval has been very stable, including among Republicans.

 

Trump seems to instill faith in the executive branch among Republicans, while more than half Democrats don’t know which branch to trust, with a third of Democrats saying they trust the Supreme Court the most of the three branches.