Poll Reveals Mixed Feelings on Immigration and New York Politics

ALBANY – A recent poll has shown that over 40% of New Yorkers are in favor of deporting individuals who are in the U.S. without legal status. However, many are notably unhappy with the methods employed by the Trump administration and ICE’s recent actions in Minneapolis.

According to the Siena College poll, a significant 61% of participants, which includes 81% of Democrats and 54% of independents, expressed discontent with ICE’s operations in response to the rising population in Minneapolis. Interestingly, 61% of Republicans, in contrast, support ICE’s tactics.

In suburban areas, including Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Orange, and Putnam counties, there’s also dissatisfaction; 61% of voters are against the current enforcement strategies.

While 43% of survey participants endorsed deportation of undocumented immigrants, 35% were against it, and 20% remained neutral – these numbers remain relatively consistent with past surveys.

“Republicans tend to have a favorable view of ICE, approving of its approaches, with nearly 75% wanting to increase the number of agents in New York City. On the flip side, Democrats and independents show an opposing stance; they view ICE unfavorably and aren’t keen on bringing more agents to the city,” said Siena Poll spokesman Steve Greenberg.

A year ago, another Siena poll indicated that 80% supported deporting immigrants who have criminal records, which included 71% of Latino respondents.

Recently, a different poll highlighted that Governor Kathy Hochul’s favorability reached a record high of 49%. However, 40% still rated her unfavorably, reflecting a net favorability of +9%.

This marks a rare instance where Siena’s poll has consistently shown a net positive rating for Hochul over several months, particularly since December 2022 when Andrew Cuomo held his first election after resigning.

“Although a 49-40% favorability rating isn’t particularly thrilling, for Ms. Hochul, it represents a notable 7-point rise since December. More importantly, it indicates that for the first time in about four and a half years, 49% of voters have a favorable view of her tenure,” Greenberg noted.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman remains relatively unknown among voters, with 60% stating they were unaware of who he is as Hochul’s likely Republican challenger.

Blakeman will be facing an uphill battle against Hochul, with the poll showing her leading significantly, 54% to 28%. In the suburbs, he’s trailing by a striking 14 points (50% to 36%).

Despite this, 51% of those surveyed indicated they preferred a different candidate for governor, as only 42% would choose to re-elect Hochul.

“With ten months left before Election Day, Blakeman, still unknown to many New Yorkers, faces significant challenges. Hochul enjoys a robust 79-8% support among Democrats, contrasting with Blakeman’s 69-15% support among Republicans, along with a slim 41-34% lead over independents statewide,” Greenberg mentioned.

Furthermore, Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, who is in contention against Hochul in the primary, is similarly unfamiliar to 61% of respondents; in a direct matchup, he garnered only 11% of support compared to her 64%.