Poll: Voters oppose bill combining DACA protections with border wall

Poll: Voters oppose bill combining DACA protections with border wall

Roughly half of polled voters oppose Congress passing a bill that combines protections for immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, known as "Dreamers," with funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a poll released Thursday found.



A Quinnipiac University poll shows 49 percent of respondents oppose tying funding for President Trump’s border wall to addressing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, compared to 39 percent who support such a measure.



Hispanic voters are split evenly on the issue, with 42 percent opposing it and 42 percent supporting it, according to the poll.



In total, 73 percent of voters support allowing Dreamers to remain in the U.S. legally, according to the poll.
The Trump administration announced last year it would rescind DACA, which allows certain immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to remain here and work without fear of deportation.



As lawmakers work to agree on an immigration bill, Trump has indicated any measure that addresses DACA must also adequately fund his border wall.



White House chief of staff John Kelly said Wednesday the wall won't stretch across the entire border, and indicated the Mexican government won't pay for it, as Trump has previously claimed. Kelly also told lawmakers Trump's initial views on immigration were "uninformed."
Kelly's comments reportedly irked the president, who on Thursday morning reiterated that his concept for the wall "has never changed or evolved from the first day I conceived of it."



The poll surveyed 1,212 American voters between Jan. 12-16 and has a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.

Release Detail

PDF format
Additional Trend Information
Sample and Methodology detail

American voters support 73 - 21 percent, including 49 - 40 percent among Republicans, legislation to allow undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children - Dreamers - to remain in the U.S. legally, according to a Quinnipiac University National Poll released today.

But voters oppose 49 - 39 percent a bill which combines protection for Dreamers with funding a wall on the border with Mexico, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds. Hispanic voters are divided 42 - 42 percent on this combination bill.

Republicans support The Wall/Dreamer combination bill 54 - 29 percent, with opposition at 62 - 29 percent among Democrats and 51 - 39 percent among independent voters. Opposition is 46 - 40 percent among white voters and 67 - 27 percent among black voters.

American voters are positive on immigration, saying:

• 89 - 7 percent that legal immigration is good for the country;
• 78 - 12 percent that immigration from diverse countries makes the U.S. better;
• 76 - 16 percent that country of origin shouldn't matter in whether immigrants deserve to come to the U.S.

"While Washington roils over what formula will bring sense to the raucous and ugly immigration debate, voters put it simply: Dreamers should be allowed to live the dream," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

"Where you come from is irrelevant, says a welcoming nation that sees immigrants as assets, not liabilities, for a country built on people looking for a better life."

American voters support 87 - 9 percent "increasing federal spending for roads, bridges, mass transit and other infrastructure."

There is little or no difference in the level of support among any listed party, gender, education, age or racial group.

A total of 40 percent of American voters are "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" with the way things are going in the nation today, as 59 percent are "somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied."

While it remains negative, this is the highest level of satisfaction since a 2005 Quinnipiac University poll.

"It has been 13 years since Americans have felt this good about life in the U.S., but the numbers suggest there is a long way to go," Malloy said.

2018 House and Senate Races

American voters say 50 - 39 percent they would like to see the Democratic Party take control of the U.S. House of Representatives this year. Independent voters back the Democrats 45 - 37 percent.

By a similar 52 - 40 percent, voters want the Democrats to take control of the U.S. Senate this year. Independent voters want Democrats in control 47 - 37 percent.

From January 12 - 16, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,212 voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percentage points, including the design effect. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts nationwide public opinion surveys, and statewide polls in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa and Colorado as a public service and for research.

Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll

Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job? WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No

Approve 16% 27% 6% 16% 21% 12% 13% 18%
Disapprove 78 66 88 79 75 81 82 75
DK/NA 6 7 6 5 4 7 5 7

AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp

Approve 24% 14% 15% 11% 19% 12% 15% 14% 25%
Disapprove 64 82 83 83 76 81 79 82 68
DK/NA 12 4 2 6 5 7 6 4 8

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?

App Dis DK/NA

Jan 18, 2018 16 78 6
Dec 19, 2017 13 79 8
Dec 05, 2017 12 80 8
Aug 24, 2017 10 83 7
Aug 17, 2017 10 85 5
Aug 03, 2017 10 84 6
Mar 07, 2017 18 70 12
Jan 26, 2017 19 67 14
Jan 10, 2017 12 79 9
Apr 21, 2010 20 71 9

Click here for full trend


3. Is your opinion of the Democratic Party favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about it? WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No

Favorable 36% 6% 68% 32% 31% 41% 46% 27%
Unfavorable 49 85 19 52 53 46 48 60
Hvn't hrd enough 11 7 10 13 12 11 4 9
REFUSED 3 2 3 3 4 2 2 3

AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp

Favorable 37% 35% 37% 38% 30% 42% 36% 41% 39%
Unfavorable 36 52 54 51 58 51 54 28 38
Hvn't hrd enough 23 8 6 9 8 6 7 26 19
REFUSED 4 4 2 2 4 2 3 4 4


TREND: Is your opinion of the Democratic Party favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about it? Fav Unfav HvntHrd REF

Jan 18, 2018 36 49 11 3
Dec 19, 2017 37 44 13 6
Dec 05, 2017 36 47 12 4
Aug 24, 2017 33 52 11 4
Aug 17, 2017 35 54 8 3
Aug 03, 2017 36 48 11 5
Mar 07, 2017 38 53 6 3
Jan 26, 2017 40 51 6 3
Jan 10, 2017 37 52 6 4
Nov 28, 2016 35 56 6 3

Click here for full trend


4. Is your opinion of the Republican Party favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about it? WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No

Favorable 31% 74% 4% 27% 37% 25% 26% 43%
Unfavorable 58 18 85 60 53 62 67 46
Hvn't hrd enough 9 7 10 9 6 12 5 7
REFUSED 3 2 1 4 3 2 2 4

AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp

Favorable 27% 33% 34% 28% 41% 29% 35% 9% 32%
Unfavorable 53 58 59 61 50 62 56 75 45
Hvn't hrd enough 17 6 6 8 5 6 6 16 19
REFUSED 3 3 1 2 4 3 3 - 4


TREND: Is your opinion of the Republican Party favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about it? Fav Unfav HvntHrd REF

Jan 18, 2018 31 58 9 3
Dec 19, 2017 25 60 11 4
Dec 05, 2017 24 62 10 4
Aug 24, 2017 25 63 8 4
Aug 17, 2017 23 67 8 3
Aug 03, 2017 22 64 11 3
Mar 07, 2017 38 54 6 2
Jan 26, 2017 33 57 6 4
Jan 10, 2017 33 55 8 4
Nov 28, 2016 38 50 7 5

Click here for full trend


12. If the election were today, would you want to see the Republican Party or the Democratic Party win control of the United States House of Representatives? WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No

Republican Party 39% 92% 3% 37% 46% 34% 38% 57%
Democratic Party 50 6 93 45 43 57 55 35
DK/NA 10 2 4 18 11 10 7 8

AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp

Republican Party 29% 42% 43% 41% 56% 40% 47% 8% 28%
Democratic Party 55 46 50 51 38 52 45 85 48
DK/NA 16 12 7 8 7 8 7 7 24


TREND: If the election were today, would you want to see the Republican Party or the Democratic Party win control of the United States House of Representatives? Rep Dem
Party Party DK/NA

Jan 18, 2018 39 50 10
Jan 11, 2018 35 52 13
Dec 19, 2017 37 52 12
Dec 13, 2017 37 49 13
Dec 05, 2017 36 50 13
Nov 14, 2017 38 51 11
Oct 11, 2017 41 49 10
Sep 27, 2017 38 47 15
Aug 24, 2017 38 50 11
Aug 17, 2017 40 50 10

Click here for full trend


13. If the election were today, would you want to see the Republican Party or the Democratic Party win control of the United States Senate? WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No

Republican Party 40% 93% 4% 37% 46% 34% 38% 58%
Democratic Party 52 5 94 47 46 57 57 37
DK/NA 8 1 2 16 8 9 5 6

AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp

Republican Party 31% 42% 43% 41% 56% 41% 48% 6% 31%
Democratic Party 55 50 51 51 40 52 47 89 47
DK/NA 13 9 6 7 4 7 6 5 22


TREND: If the election were today, would you want to see the Republican Party or the Democratic Party win control of the United States Senate? Rep Dem
Party Party DK/NA

Jan 18, 2018 40 52 8
Jan 11, 2018 36 53 11
Dec 19, 2017 37 53 10
Dec 13, 2017 39 51 10
Dec 05, 2017 37 51 12
Nov 14, 2017 39 52 8
Oct 11, 2017 43 49 8
Sep 27, 2017 40 49 12
Aug 24, 2017 40 51 9
Aug 17, 2017 41 51 8

Click here for full trend


14. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No

Very satisfied 9% 23% 1% 7% 12% 6% 10% 12%
Smwht satisfied 31 54 13 31 36 26 25 40
Smwht dissatisfied 22 15 26 24 20 24 25 20
Very dissatisfied 37 7 60 38 31 42 40 26
DK/NA 1 - - 1 - 1 1 1

AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp

Very satisfied 8% 9% 11% 7% 15% 8% 11% 1% 5%
Smwht satisfied 27 31 32 32 38 28 32 20 31
Smwht dissatisfied 29 20 19 22 19 25 22 25 25
Very dissatisfied 35 39 37 38 28 38 33 54 38
DK/NA 1 - - 1 1 1 1 - -


TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Very Smwht Smwht Very
sat sat dis dis DK/NA

Jan 18, 2018 9 31 22 37 1
Dec 20, 2017 7 26 24 43 1
Nov 22, 2017 7 25 29 38 1
Nov 14, 2017 5 23 29 42 1
Oct 11, 2017 3 24 29 43 1
Sep 27, 2017 2 22 33 41 1
Aug 24, 2017 3 19 27 50 1
Aug 17, 2017 6 26 26 42 1
Aug 03, 2017 5 27 29 39 1
Jun 28, 2017 4 27 26 41 1

Click here for full trend


27. Do you support or oppose increasing federal spending for roads, bridges, mass transit and other infrastructure? WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No

Support 87% 86% 88% 89% 89% 86% 91% 88%
Oppose 9 11 7 8 9 9 6 10
DK/NA 3 3 5 3 2 5 3 2

AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp

Support 83% 87% 89% 89% 89% 89% 89% 80% 84%
Oppose 13 9 8 8 9 7 8 15 10
DK/NA 4 4 3 3 2 3 3 5 6


TREND: Do you support or oppose increasing federal spending for roads, bridges, mass transit and other infrastructure? Sup Opp DK/NA

Jan 18, 2018 87 9 3
May 11, 2017 86 12 2
Apr 05, 2017 89 9 3
Mar 08, 2017 90 8 2
Feb 23, 2017 87 10 3
Feb 08, 2017 89 9 2
Nov 23, 2016 83 15 2



33. As you may know, Congress must pass a new spending bill in order to prevent a government shutdown, which then must be signed by President Trump. If a government shutdown does occur, who would you blame more: Republicans in Congress, Democrats in Congress, or President Trump? WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No

Republicans 32% 8% 52% 31% 32% 32% 38% 26%
Democrats 34 76 6 30 36 32 34 47
President Trump 21 6 32 22 17 24 18 13
DK/NA 13 10 10 17 15 12 11 13

AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp

Republicans 38% 32% 31% 29% 29% 34% 32% 32% 27%
Democrats 22 35 38 36 45 37 40 6 22
President Trump 26 16 19 23 14 17 15 51 30
DK/NA 14 16 11 12 13 12 12 11 21


TREND: As you may know, Congress must pass a new spending bill in order to prevent a government shutdown, which then must be signed by President Trump. If a government shutdown does occur, who would you blame more: Republicans in Congress, Democrats in Congress, or President Trump? (* Prior to Dec 13, 2017 included shutdown date) Reps Dems Trump DK/NA

Jan 18, 2018 32 34 21 13
Dec 19, 2017 41 31 16 11
Dec 13, 2017 33 29 21 17
Dec 05, 2017 31 31 26 12
Apr 20, 2017 38 32 15 15
Apr 05, 2017 36 28 18 18



34. Overall, do you believe that legal immigration is good for the country or bad for the country? WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No

Good 89% 87% 91% 90% 92% 87% 94% 84%
Bad 7 11 5 5 6 7 4 11
DK/NA 4 2 4 5 3 6 2 6

AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp

Good 88% 94% 91% 84% 91% 87% 89% 85% 92%
Bad 6 5 5 10 6 9 7 10 2
DK/NA 6 1 4 5 3 4 4 5 6



35. Would you support or oppose a bill which allowed undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children to remain in the United States legally? WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No

Support 73% 49% 93% 73% 67% 77% 79% 58%
Oppose 21 40 6 20 26 17 16 32
DK/NA 6 11 1 6 6 6 5 10

AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp

Support 77% 72% 69% 73% 63% 74% 69% 87% 85%
Oppose 18 23 23 19 31 18 24 13 12
DK/NA 5 5 7 8 6 8 7 - 3



36. Would you support or oppose a bill which funded a wall along the border with Mexico, but also allowed undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children to remain in the United States legally? WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No

Support 39% 54% 29% 39% 43% 35% 37% 44%
Oppose 49 29 62 51 45 52 52 40
DK/NA 12 17 9 10 12 13 11 16

AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp

Support 42% 33% 37% 46% 44% 37% 40% 27% 42%
Oppose 49 58 49 39 42 50 46 67 42
DK/NA 9 9 15 15 14 13 13 6 16



37. Which comes closer to your point of view: immigration from diverse countries makes the United States better, or immigration from diverse countries makes the United States worse? WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No

Better 78% 62% 89% 80% 78% 78% 82% 68%
Worse 12 20 8 10 13 11 9 16
NEITHER(VOL) 3 5 - 4 2 3 4 4
DK/NA 7 13 3 6 7 8 5 11

AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp

Better 91% 82% 76% 67% 74% 77% 75% 83% 85%
Worse 6 9 13 19 14 11 13 13 8
NEITHER(VOL) 1 4 3 4 3 4 4 - 1
DK/NA 2 6 9 10 8 8 8 4 6



38. In general, do you think that immigrants from certain countries deserve to immigrate to the United States more than immigrants from other countries, or do you think the country an immigrant is from shouldn't matter? WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No

Country matters 16% 28% 7% 16% 17% 15% 19% 19%
Shouldn't matter 76 57 89 76 78 75 73 70
DK/NA 8 15 4 7 6 10 7 11

AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp

Country matters 11% 16% 16% 20% 20% 18% 19% 5% 8%
Shouldn't matter 88 79 71 69 72 72 72 93 89
DK/NA 1 5 12 11 8 10 9 2 3



40. Do you think that the investigation into any links or coordination between President Trump's 2016 election campaign and the Russian government is a legitimate investigation, or do you think it is a political witch hunt? WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No

Legitimate 52% 12% 79% 55% 48% 55% 59% 37%
Witch hunt 43 83 14 41 49 38 38 58
DK/NA 5 4 6 4 3 7 4 4

AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp

Legitimate 54% 55% 52% 49% 43% 53% 48% 70% 58%
Witch hunt 38 42 44 47 54 42 48 23 31
DK/NA 8 4 4 4 3 5 4 7 12


https://poll.qu.edu/national/release...ReleaseID=2514