When people think of democracy, they often think of freedom of speech, voting rights, and civic participation. But another key part of democracy is accepting the outcome—even when it’s uncomfortable. And right now, the will of the American people is crystal clear: they want to control immigration, especially illegal immigration.
Multiple polls—conducted by The New York Times, CBS News, ABC News, and Marquette University—show that a majority of Americans now support the deportation of all immigrants in the U.S. illegally. Here are the numbers:
- New York Times: 55%
- Marquette University: 64%
- CBS News: 57%
- ABC News: 56%
These results are remarkably consistent across pollsters. It’s not a fringe view—it’s mainstream.
And it’s not a recent phenomenon. Support for stricter immigration enforcement has been rising steadily. In 2016, just 36% supported deporting all undocumented immigrants. Now, it’s 56%. Public sentiment has shifted by 20 points in less than a decade.
Why Is the Public Turning Toward Enforcement?
Because controlling immigration is not about hatred—it’s about order, security, and fairness.
- Lower crime: While not every undocumented immigrant commits crimes, it’s a fact that unregulated borders make it easier for criminals, drug traffickers, and human smugglers to enter and operate. A country that controls its borders reduces the likelihood of crime entering along with illegal migration.
- Less strain on public services: Health care, education, housing, and welfare programs are already stretched thin. When undocumented immigrants enter the country, they often use these services without contributing taxes in the same proportion. This burdens working-class citizens the most—especially immigrants who played by the rules to come in legally.
- Social cohesion and assimilation: Immigration works best when new arrivals integrate into the culture, respect the country’s laws, and learn the language. But today, many immigrants choose not to assimilate, creating cultural enclaves and fragmented communities. This leads to division, mistrust, and, in some cases, hostility between groups. A healthy democracy requires a shared identity—not parallel societies.
Even Immigrants Support Deportation of the Undocumented
What often goes unreported is that many legal immigrants are among the strongest supporters of enforcing immigration laws. Why? Because they respect the system. They waited in line, submitted paperwork, paid fees, and passed background checks. Watching others bypass the process feels like a slap in the face.
This isn’t xenophobia. It’s fairness. And fairness is one of democracy’s core values.
The Bigger Picture: Democracy Is Speaking
Politicians love to talk about protecting democracy, but do they really listen to the people? Because the people are saying this loud and clear:
- They want fewer undocumented immigrants.
- They want overall immigration levels reduced.
- They want the rule of law respected.
In fact, when asked whether they want overall immigration—legal and illegal—to decrease, 55% of Americans said yes, the highest level since 9/11.
This isn’t about “building walls” or “closing borders forever.” It’s about taking a realistic, balanced approach to national policy—one that serves citizens first. That includes long-time immigrants, working-class families, and vulnerable communities who often compete with undocumented migrants for housing, jobs, and government support.
Controlling Immigration Is Good Policy—and Good Democracy
Let’s be honest: open borders don’t work. No country can maintain its economy, security, or social stability without controlling who enters and who stays.
What we’re witnessing now is not a swing to the far right—it’s a mainstream correction. It’s people recognizing that compassion without control leads to chaos. If we want to preserve the ideals of opportunity, equality, and justice, then we must manage immigration wisely—not emotionally.
So let’s stop pretending that enforcing immigration laws is somehow un-American. On the contrary—it’s what a functioning democracy must do. Because in the end, it’s not about who yells the loudest on social media.
It’s about what the people vote for. And the people want their borders protected.
Previous Politics posts