Washington DC voters show mixed views on immigration ahead of midterms

Recent polling indicates that immigration remains an important issue for voters in the Washington DC area, but it ranks behind concerns like the economy, cost of living, healthcare, and the war with Iran, according to WTOP.

An AP-NORC poll cited by WTOP found that 45% of voters consider immigration and crime among the most important issues heading into the midterms. However, approval of President Donald Trump's immigration policies has declined, with only 39% of adults approving his handling of immigration after incidents involving federal agents in several states.

David Bier, director of immigration studies at the DC-based Cato Institute, told WTOP that Trump expected strong voter support for his immigration actions but has not received the anticipated positive reaction. Among Republicans, approval has dropped from 88% in March 2025 to 81%.

Ernesto Castañeda of American University noted that surveys by his organizations also show dissatisfaction with current immigration policies, even in polls that may overrepresent southern and Republican voters.

Both major parties have struggled politically with immigration issues over the past decade, and voter dissatisfaction during Trump's first term contributed to the election of Joe Biden, WTOP reported.