One might think it goes without saying that members of violent foreign gangs who are in this country illegally should be deported. Indeed, if they aren’t going to be deported, then who should be? And yet, Rasmussen finds that the proposition is controversial:
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 64% of Likely U.S. Voters support Trump’s policy of deporting Venezuelan gang members, including 47% who Strongly Support it. Twenty-six percent (26%) are opposed, including 16% who Strongly Oppose deporting Tren de Aragua members.
On most issues you would be satisfied with a 64% majority, but deporting members of violent foreign gangs? Who, exactly, thinks they ought to stay here–illegally? Who, in other words, are the 26%?
This is the question Rasmussen asked:
President Trump has declared the Venezuelan crime gang Tren de Aragua to be a Foreign Terrorist Organization, and invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport these gang members. Do you support or oppose Trump’s policy to deport Venezuelan gang members?
To be charitable, it is possible that some of the 26% focused on the Alien Enemies Act and are expressing the opinion that violent foreign gang members should be deported, but using a different process. But I think it far more likely that virtually all of those 26% heard nothing beyond “Trump’s policy.” They are so far gone in hatred for our president that they will oppose literally anything he does–up to and including using lawful authority to deport illegal immigrants who are Venezuelan gang members.
Such is the political world we live in, in 2025.
