California Voters Divided Over Trump's Immigration Policies

Poll shows overall disapproval remains high, but Republican support ticks upward as tactics shift

Apr. 1, 2026 at 3:55pm

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A new poll from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies reveals a state deeply divided over federal immigration enforcement, with two-thirds of California voters disapproving of President Trump's policies even as Republican support ticks upward. The findings underscore a persistent tension, as nearly half of all voters worry they or someone close to them could be detained under the current administration's rules.

Why it matters

The poll exposes sharp disagreements over civil liberties that cut across party lines in California, with concerns about racial profiling and agent anonymity reflecting the high stakes for immigrant communities. As enforcement tactics evolve and legal battles over funding and authority continue, the divide between state voters and federal policy shows little sign of narrowing.

The details

The survey, conducted for the Los Angeles Times, found that overall disapproval of Trump's immigration policies has dipped slightly from 69% to 64%, driven largely by a consolidation of Republican support which has risen from 79% to 86%. Researchers suggest this shift may reflect a normalization of tactics rather than a change in ideology, as the administration has adjusted its approach under new border advisor Tom Homan. However, Democrats argue the change is marginal and driven by reduced media coverage of violence rather than policy substance.

  • The poll was conducted between March 9 and 15, 2026.

The players

UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies

A research institute at the University of California, Berkeley that conducted the poll on California voters' views of Trump's immigration policies.

G. Cristina Mora

Co-director of the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and a sociology professor at UC Berkeley.

Ford O'Connell

A Republican strategist who argues the shift in Republican support reflects a 'lighter touch' approach under new border advisor Tom Homan.

Maria Cardona

A Democratic strategist who disputes the Republican strategist's assessment, calling it 'wishful thinking'.

Tom Homan

The border advisor tapped by the Trump administration to oversee immigration enforcement operations.

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What they’re saying

“'Tom Homan being in charge and publicly taking a much lighter touch and appearing reasonable to the average voter is why you're seeing this turnaround.'”

— Ford O'Connell, Republican strategist

“'It only went down five points. That's not the American people being on the side of the administration — it's that they're not seeing American citizens murdered on their screens every day.'”

— Maria Cardona, Democratic strategist

What’s next

As enforcement tactics evolve and legal battles over funding and authority continue, the divide between state voters and federal policy on immigration is expected to remain a key issue in California politics.

The takeaway

The poll results highlight the deep partisan divide in California over the Trump administration's immigration policies, with concerns about civil liberties and racial profiling cutting across party lines. While Republican support has ticked upward, the overall disapproval of the president's approach remains high, underscoring the persistent tensions between state and federal policy on this issue.