Younger, Latino and Moderate California Republicans Diverge from Party Line on Immigration Policies

While California Democrats are nearly unified in their views on current immigration enforcement strategies, Latino Republicans and party moderates, especially women, are most likely to diverge from the GOP majority, according to a study co-authored by a UC Merced researcher.

The analysis of an August survey of California voters by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies showed that Democratic opposition to President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement policies never fell below 88% and reached 95% percent on some responses, while Republican responses reveal significant fractures in support for some enforcement measures.

The analysis, released Nov. 17 by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute, was developed by UC Merced sociology Professor Daisy Reyes and UC Berkeley professors G. Cristina Mora and Nicholas Vargas.

“These findings suggest that some Republican attitudes on immigration are movable,” Reyes said. “When enforcement practices are seen as inconsistent with constitutional norms, voters — especially younger and moderate Republicans — tend to respond with skepticism rather than partisan reflex.”

According to the data analysis, 45% of California Republicans said Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents should be required to show identification, 40% supported due process for all immigrants, and roughly a third opposed expanding enforcement into schools and hospitals, deporting long-term residents or ending birthright citizenship.