FWD.us today released new polling conducted by Moore Information Group making clear that the majority of U.S. voters — independents, Democrats and Republicans — continue to support the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and oppose its immediate termination. The results come as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision on DACA as soon as this Thursday, May 14, determining the future of the DACA program and the nearly 700,000 young people it protects.

The survey, conducted online on May 5, 2020, included 1,188 live interviews among a representative sample of likely U.S. voters. Key findings include:

  • The majority of Americans support the DACA program. When asked whether or not they support or oppose the DACA program, 66% of voters indicated support for the program, including 91% of Democrats, 46% of Republicans, and 55% of independents (only 26% of independents oppose, a more than 2:1 split).
  • When fully informed on DACA, voter support for the program increases. When provided additional background on the program, 71% of voters indicated support for DACA, including 90% of Democrats, 55% of Republicans, and 63% of independents (only 22% of independents oppose, a nearly 3:1 split).
    A total of 5% of voters move to support DACA when fully informed. Of that 5%, 40% are Republican and 40% are independent.
  • If the Supreme Court argues that the president was lawful in his termination of the program, the majority of U.S. voters oppose ending DACA. When asked if the President should immediately terminate DACA should the Supreme Court rule against the program, 53% of voters oppose ending DACA, including an over 2:1 split amongst independents in opposition (52% oppose, 25% support)
  • The majority of U.S. voters agree that eliminating DACA would be bad for our country, since it would result in the loss of jobs and result in the deportation of nearly 700,000 people. Among voters, 65% agree that eliminating DACA would be bad for the U.S., including 81% of Democrats, 51% of Republicans, and 61% of independents (23% of independents disagree, a near 3:1 split).

Regarding the release, Erik Iverson, president and managing partner of Moore Information Group, said, “The survey results show American voters on both sides of the aisle support the DACA program, and that support increases as voters get more information on the issue. As a result, most voters oppose ending the program and agree that eliminating it would be bad for the country.”

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Additional Background

The termination of the DACA program without Congress passing permanent legislative protections would devastate American families and communities across the country, as well as result in severe economic harm.

Among the approximately 700,000 young immigrants protected under DACA who came to the U.S. as children, more than 200,000 work in essential frontline roles combatting the coronavirus crisis – including nearly 30,000 of them in healthcare jobs, such as doctors and nurses.

Despite their enormous contributions, DACA recipients have lived in legal limbo and constant fear and uncertainty since the Trump Administration’s attempted rescission of the DACA program in September 2017.

Thursday, May 14 is the next date on which the Supreme Court could issue a ruling on DACA, potentially upending the lives of nearly 700,000 DACA recipients, their families, and their communities by stripping away their work permits and their protections from deportation.