A new poll released by the University of California, Irvine’s School of Social Ecology on April 28 shows that Orange County residents have broadly positive but carefully qualified opinions about immigration. The UCI-OC Poll, conducted in partnership with TrueDot from March 24 to March 31, surveyed 1,202 adults in English and Spanish to understand local attitudes toward immigration policies and enforcement.
The findings are significant because they reflect the complex nature of public opinion in one of the nation’s most politically balanced counties. Jon B. Gould, dean of UC Irvine’s School of Social Ecology and director of the UCI-OC Poll, said: “What we see in Orange County is a public that resists simple characterization. Residents broadly recognize the benefits of immigration and support integrating many undocumented immigrants into society, but they also draw clear lines around enforcement and policy design. This is a pragmatic county.”
According to the survey results, there is strong cross-partisan agreement that undocumented U.S. veterans should not be deported. However, opinions differ when it comes to protections for DACA recipients, employed individuals without documentation, and parents of U.S.-born children—Democrats and Independents are more likely than Republicans to favor these protections.
The poll found majorities opposed several high-profile enforcement measures linked with former President Donald Trump’s administration but showed strong support for targeted actions such as cracking down on human trafficking (81%) or limiting immigration from countries considered dangerous or unstable (61%). “The data tell us that Orange County residents are not simply for or against enforcement – they are making careful distinctions,” Gould said. “They will support targeted enforcement when it addresses clear threats like human trafficking, but they draw the line at policies they view as overly broad or severe.”
Public opinion was mixed regarding institutions involved in immigration policy; nearly two-thirds opposed recent actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement while a narrow majority rejected abolishing the agency altogether. At a local level, 47% supported state and local governments refusing cooperation with federal deportation efforts; meanwhile, over half found it acceptable for religious organizations not to assist such efforts.
Partisanship emerged as a key factor shaping views: Democrats generally held positive attitudes towards immigrants while Republicans were more skeptical about their impact on society. Sixty percent disapproved overall of Trump’s handling of immigration issues; disapproval dropped slightly (to 55%) regarding border-specific matters.
Gould said: “Partisanship is the loudest signal in this data, but it is not the only one… Lived experience – shaped by age, race and community ties – also plays a meaningful role in how Orange County residents think about immigration.”
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Looking ahead, results from polls like this may inform both policymakers’ decisions locally as well as contribute insight into national debates about future directions for American immigration policy.