Majority of U.S. Voters Oppose Deportation of Migrants to Third Countries, New Poll Shows

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A newly released poll shows that a significant majority of American voters disapprove of the Trump administration’s policy of deporting undocumented immigrants to countries other than their own. According to the national survey, 64 percent of voters oppose the practice, while only 30 percent express approval.

The findings come in the wake of updated U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) guidelines, which now permit the expedited removal of migrants to third countries within as little as six hours, provided there are “diplomatic assurances” that the individuals will not be subjected to torture or persecution in their destination.

The controversial third-country deportation policy gained renewed attention this week as five men—citizens of Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen, and Laos—were deported to Eswatini, a small landlocked nation in southern Africa. The transfer is part of the administration's ongoing efforts to expand the use of third countries as destinations for individuals who are deemed ineligible to remain in the United States and whose home countries have refused repatriation.

The poll, conducted by Quinnipiac University, also found that 57 percent of respondents disapprove of how ICE is enforcing immigration laws, compared to 39 percent who approve, and 4 percent who declined to express an opinion.

The survey was conducted between July 10 and July 14 among 1,290 self-identified registered voters across the country, with a margin of error of ±2.7 percentage points.

The Trump administration has defended the policy as necessary to remove dangerous individuals from U.S. soil, citing crimes committed by some of the deportees. However, rights groups and international watchdogs have voiced concern over the lack of transparency, the potential for human rights violations, and the targeting of migrants who may face severe risks in unfamiliar third countries.