A Majority Of Americans Support Deporting All Illegal Immigrants As Democrats Rally Around El Salvadoran National

A clear majority of American voters now support the deportation of all illegal immigrants from the United States, according to a newly released CNN poll—a development that undercuts progressive narratives on immigration and signals widespread support for the Trump administration’s hardline stance.

The poll found that 56 percent of Americans favor deporting the estimated 11 million illegal aliens currently residing in the country. This marks a dramatic shift in public opinion from 2016, when only 38 percent supported such action. The numbers reflect a growing frustration among voters with what many perceive as a failure to enforce immigration laws and a concern for national security and public safety.

This significant swing in sentiment comes during a heated political battle over the recent deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old El Salvadorian national alleged to be a ranking member of the violent MS-13 gang—a group designated as a transnational criminal organization. Despite his criminal associations, Democrats and immigration advocates have rallied behind Garcia, who was deported in March as part of a broader Trump administration crackdown on MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, another violent gang.

He entered the U.S. illegally at 16, was later arrested with other known gang members, and was confirmed by a credible source to be a high-ranking MS-13 operative. Although an immigration judge in 2019 denied his bond due to the threat he posed, Garcia was later granted “withholding of removal” status due to fears he might face persecution in El Salvador by a rival gang.

He remained in the U.S., married an American citizen while in detention, and had a child. The Trump administration defended his eventual deportation, citing not only his gang affiliations but also domestic abuse allegations leveled by his wife. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out the deportation despite the 2019 ruling, with officials calling the move lawful and necessary for public safety.

Democrats, however, have called Garcia’s removal an “administrative error” and have demanded his return. Their efforts have sparked fierce backlash from Republican lawmakers who view Garcia as emblematic of the broader national security threat posed by illegal immigration and transnational gangs.

Failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton publicly backed Kilmar Abrego Garcia, claiming Garcia’s removal was evidence of “authoritarianism” in action and warned Americans that “if they can ship Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a foreign prison—accused of no crime, with no trial—they can do it to anyone,” in a Wednesday post on X (formerly Twitter). She urged Americans to “stand against this now,” despite the extensive evidence tying Garcia to gang activity and domestic abuse.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) has also joined the growing list of Democrats vocally supporting Abrego Garcia. Sharing a critical article on social media, Crockett accused the Trump administration of bypassing legal processes by deporting Garcia, stating that Attorney General Pam Bondi was acting in “defiance of the rule of law.” Crockett’s statement adds fuel to an already volatile debate, prompting critics to question why prominent Democrats are defending an individual with a documented history of gang affiliation and criminal behavior.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) personally traveled to El Salvador this week to lobby for Garcia’s release, drawing heavy criticism from DHS officials. The agency fired back in a statement on X, accusing Van Hollen of prioritizing “an MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, and illegal alien” over his own constituents.

Several more Democratic lawmakers are mobilizing to El Salvador in a growing campaign to bring him back. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) remains in El Salvador, with Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) announcing plans to join him, calling the deportation a “constitutional crisis” and likening it to authoritarian disappearances. Reps. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) and Robert Garcia (D-CA) have requested official authorization to visit the prison where Abrego Garcia is being held, as has Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL). Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) is also reportedly preparing to travel to the notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in Tecoluca, El Salvador. Their actions mark an unprecedented push from within Congress to intervene on behalf of an individual who, according to DHS records, was verified as a ranking MS-13 member, caught with drugs and large amounts of cash, and accused of domestic violence.

The Democratic Party’s aggressive defense of Kilmar Abrego Garcia perfectly encapsulates what many critics describe as the party’s political freefall. As Democrats face record-low approval ratings and a growing disconnect with the American electorate, they’ve chosen to rally behind one of the most controversial figures imaginable. Again, this comes at a time when polling found that a majority of Americans (56%) now support the deportation of all illegal immigrants, up significantly from previous years. Instead of trying to meet the clear public demand for stronger immigration enforcement, Democrats have doubled down by aligning themselves with someone viewed by many as the embodiment of failed border policies. To critics, this saga underscores the party’s detachment from the concerns of ordinary Americans and highlights why increasing numbers of voters are turning away from the left in favor of candidates promising law, order, and national sovereignty.

“MS-13 members have raped, tortured, and murdered Americans in cold blood,” said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) in a fiery statement. “Garcia invaded our country illegally, broke our laws, and according to his own wife, abused her.”

“He’s exactly the kind of dangerous thug President Trump promised to remove—and he did,” she continued. “Yet while President Trump is protecting American lives, Democrats are working overtime to bring this animal back. They’re fighting harder for an MS-13 gang member than they ever have for the victims of his cartel’s violence.”

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