New Poll Shows Voters Oppose Immigration Arrests in Hospitals, Clinics, Other ‘Protected Areas’ 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
August 14, 2025 

CONTACT  
Email: [email protected]
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458  
Adrian Escárate, 202-609-9976   

New Poll Shows Voters Oppose Immigration Arrests in Hospitals, Clinics, Other ‘Protected Areas’

WASHINGTON — The National Immigration Law Center today released results of a poll showing voters disapprove of the Trump administration’s change in policy that allows federal immigration officers to detain and arrest immigrants in hospitals and other health care facilities, which were once considered “protected areas.” 

“All of us should feel safe at the doctor’s office, and this poll shows voters understand the imperative of protecting clinics and hospitals from immigration raids and potentially violent confrontations,” said Matthew Lopas, director of state advocacy & technical assistance at the National Immigration Law Center. “Nurses and doctors should not have to prepare for dealing with immigration arrests— they should be able to focus 100 percent on providing the best care possible to patients. At the end of the day, making sure everyone feels safe going to the doctor or hospital is good for all of us and makes our communities healthier.” 

The poll, conducted by Hart Research Associates, also shows that Americans generally oppose immigration enforcement in schools and religious settings. Notable findings include:  

• By a decisive 18-point margin, voters disapprove of the recent change in federal policy that allows immigration officers to detain and arrest people in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.     

• Just 38 percent of voters approve of the Trump administration policy allowing federal immigration officers to detain and arrest immigrants in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities, while fully 56 percent disapprove. 

• Disagreement with arrests and detentions in healthcare facilities is broad, with opposition outweighing support within all age groups, and among white, Black, and Latine voters. Opposition is notably strong among voters in the middle of the electorate — independents (-32 net approval), swing voters (-26), and moderates (-26). 

• Strong majorities reject immigration arrests in each health care setting we asked about: 59 percent object to arrests in hospitals, and 58 percent in doctors’ offices and medical clinics.  

• In addition, 67 percent of voters object to arrests in places of worship, and 60 percent object to arrests in schools. 

• More broadly, Americans increasingly believe that undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay legally in the U.S. The Trump administration’s pursuit of mass deportation appears to be generating a public backlash, resulting in greater support for creating paths to legal status. Now, two in three voters (68 percent) say there should be a way for undocumented immigrants to stay in the country legally if certain requirements are met. 

View the survey memo: https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/NILC-Healthcare-Survey-Memo.pdf 

View additional insights: https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/NILC-Healthcare-Survey.pdf  

###