A majority of Americans disapprove of the way President Donald Trump is handling immigration, according to a new Quinnipiac University National Poll released Tuesday.
And the most frequent words they use in describing the practice of separating children from their parents as families try to enter the U.S. illegally are sad and "terrible."
"The words are G-rated, but a punch to the gut of President Donald Trump's immigration policy," said Tim Malloy, the poll's assistant director. "When it comes to the separation of immigrant kids from their parents, American voters are clearly appalled."
The poll of 1,020 nationwide, conducted from June 27-July 1, found:
- American voters disapprove 58 - 39 percent of the way Trump is handling immigration.
- Separating children from their parents was a violation of human rights, they say 60 - 36 percent.
- The Trump Administration has a responsibility to unite these children with their parents, voters say 83 - 12 percent.
- The most frequent words voters used to describe the separating of families are "sad" - 79 times; "terrible" - 67 times; "bad" - 53 times; "wrong" - 47 times; "disgusted" - 45 times; and "horrible - 39 times.
- Undocumented immigrants are not more likely than American citizens to commit crimes, voters say 69 - 25 percent.
- Trump is racist, 49 percent of voters say, while 47 percent say he is not racist.
- Some 50 percent say the main motive for Trump's immigration policies is "a sincere interest in controlling our borders," while 44 percent say the main motive is "racist beliefs."
- Democrats in Congress are more interested in "exploiting the nation's immigration issue for political gain," 60 percent of voters say, while 34 percent say they are more interested in "resolving the nation's immigration issue."
Voters also call Trump's honesty and leadership skills into question, according to the Quinnipiac poll:
- Voters disapprove 55 - 40 percent of the job Trump is doing, compared to a 52 - 43 percent disapproval rating in a June 20 poll -- reversing a trend which showed the president's net approval inching up.
- 58 - 38 percent say Trump is not honest.
- 55 - 43 percent say he does not have good leadership skills.
- 55 - 43 percent say he does not care about average Americans.
- 62 - 34 percent say he is not level-headed;
- 63 - 32 percent say he is a strong person;
- 57 - 39 say he is intelligent;
- 60 - 37 percent say he does not share their values;
- 62 - 36 percent say he does not provide the U.S. with moral leadership.
But voters do approve 53 - 39 percent of Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and approve 51 - 40 percent of the way the president is handling the nation's policy toward North Korea.
In addition, voters tell Quinnipiac that the lack of civility in politics is a serious problem, 91 - 7 percent. But while 47 percent of voters blame Trump more for this lack of civility, 37 percent blame the Democrats more.
Voters also say 55 - 39 percent that Trump has emboldened people who hold racist beliefs to express those beliefs publicly.
"The latest survey warrants more low-key sparklers than soaring Roman candles as President Trump's approval stalls and voters say civility has gone out the window," Malloy said.
The Quinnipiac poll, which conducts nationwide public opinion surveys, and statewide polls, has a margin of error of +/- 3.7 percentage points.
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