Two-Thirds of New Jersey Voters Say Immigration Enforcement Has Gone Too Far, Stockton Poll Finds

Two-thirds of New Jersey voters believe immigration enforcement efforts in the United States have gone too far, while 59% say ICE’s deportation tactics are making communities less safe, according to a new Stockton University poll released today.

The survey by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy found that only 12% of voters think recent enforcement efforts have not gone far enough, while one in five said they’ve been about right. When asked about Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics specifically, 29% of voters said ICE’s methods are making communities safer, and 9% said they’ve had little effect either way.

A majority of 62% of New Jersey voters disapprove of the Trump administration’s approach to immigration, while 35% approve, according to the poll.

The survey reveals shifting attitudes on immigration policy since the last Stockton poll in October 2024. Currently, 44% of voters said immigration to the U.S. should be less difficult, 25% said it should be more difficult, and 19% are satisfied with current immigration laws.

When it comes to undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States, most voters favor allowing them to remain. The poll found that 58% said undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay legally as long as they meet certain requirements, while 16% said they should be allowed to stay without conditions. Only 22% said they should not be allowed to stay legally.

New Jersey voters demonstrate strong support for expanding legal immigration pathways. According to the poll, 82% of voters support creating more opportunities to legally immigrate to the U.S., including 93% of Democrats, 65% of Republicans, and 85% of independents.

Three-fourths of voters across all parties said immigration is good for the country overall. A majority of 76% think immigrants add useful skills and labor to the economy, while only 16% said the U.S. labor force does not need immigrant workers to fill skill or labor gaps.

Regarding immigration’s impact on personal job opportunities, 61% of voters said they think it has no effect on opportunities for them or their families. Nearly one-fourth (24%) said it worsens opportunities, and 11% said it improves opportunities.

On crime rates, a slim majority of 52% think immigration to the U.S. has no effect, while 29% think it worsens crime and 8% think it improves crime rates.

The poll reveals sharp partisan divisions on enforcement matters. Majorities of Republicans approve of the Trump administration’s immigration approach (89%), said ICE’s deportation tactics make communities safer (78%), and support increased resources for ICE (86%). A plurality of Republicans (46%) said enforcement efforts have been about right.

Democrats hold opposite views on these measures. According to the poll, 96% disapprove of Trump’s immigration approach and think enforcement efforts have gone too far, 93% said ICE’s tactics make communities less safe, and 91% oppose additional resources for ICE.

Independents fall between the two major parties, but majorities ranging from 56% to 63% align with Democrats on these enforcement measures, according to the survey.

“While there is broad agreement in New Jersey that immigration contributes positively to the country and bipartisan support for expanding legal pathways, views on how immigration is enforced and the scope of those efforts remain highly polarized,” said Alyssa Maurice, Hughes Center assistant director and head of polling. “Democrats and Republicans also have vastly different perceptions on the impact of immigration.”

The poll demonstrates that while New Jersey voters show increased openness to immigration overall, enforcement policies remain a deeply divisive issue along party lines.