ACLU of Texas Border Poll Highlights Voter Rejection of ICE, Anti-Immigrant Policies

AUSTIN, Texas – The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas conducted polling prior to the midterm election that revealed widespread concern among border residents about federal, state, and local immigration enforcement. Those findings bore out on Election Day as voters — especially Latino/e voters — overwhelmingly swept pro-ICE, anti-immigration candidates out of office.

“Voters along the border and throughout the state sent a resounding message to Texas leaders: We have had enough, get ICE out of our communities,” said Osvaldo Grimaldo (he/him), policy strategist on border and immigrants’ rights at the ACLU of Texas. “We’re not surprised by these election night results after our poll of El Paso and Rio Grande Valley showed residents felt that anti-immigration policies had gone too far. Latino voters have been impacted by this state’s harmful immigration policies and hope for the day that Texas creates a welcoming environment for our immigrant communities — now more than ever, that day is near.”

The report, entitled “Gone Too Far: Border Residents in Texas Are Concerned About Immigration Enforcement” and released in early October, shared results from a poll conducted by Change Research of 1,031 adults in El Paso County and four Rio Grande Valley counties (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy) between August 25 and September 2.

The ACLU of Texas commissioned the survey to better understand how border residents across the political spectrum feel about the surge in immigration enforcement. Key findings include:

• 53% of border residents think state and local immigration enforcement presence makes life harder without making their communities safer. Only 34% say it makes their communities safer.
• 63% of border residents, including people who have a family member employed by a federal immigration enforcement agency, believe ICE tactics have gone too far.
• 64% of border residents want local and state law enforcement to prioritize preventing and solving crime rather than immigration enforcement.

“ICE isn’t helping by deporting our hardworking immigrants regardless of their status. This whole region and country has been built on the backs of immigrants,” said one respondent who lives in the RGV and voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

Across the surveyed regions, Trump had an approval rating of 34% and disapproval rating of 60% — with 57% disapproval in the RGV and 65% disapproval in El Paso. The president won the four surveyed Rio Grande Valley counties during the 2024 election but lost El Paso County.

The federal government continues to expand immigration enforcement presence along the Texas-Mexico border despite the disruption it causes for residents of all political backgrounds who live there. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who lost his re-election bid on Tuesday night, and the state legislature have also mandated local cooperation between law enforcement and ICE.

The ACLU of Texas recommends several policies to prioritize public safety, improve conditions for residents, and represent the interests and prevailing views of border residents. Those recommendations — which are explained in greater detail in the full report — are:

1. Halt 287(g) agreements and end existing local law enforcement collaboration with ICE.
2. End state police involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
3. Support victims of crime.
4. Tailor local law enforcement priorities to avoid targeting sensitive locations such as schools, places of worship, and hospitals.

A copy of the report with crosstabs is available here: https://www.aclutx.org/publications/gone-too-far-border-residents-in-texas-are-concerned-about-immigration-enforcement/

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