A new poll underscores the devastating impact of the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement agenda, revealing a growing perception among Americans that the United States is no longer a welcoming nation for immigrants. The Associated Press-NORC poll, conducted last month, found that approximately six in ten respondents believe the U.S. used to be a great place for immigrants, but no longer is – a clear indictment of the administration's policies.

The survey also revealed that about one-third of respondents, and a staggering 60% of Hispanic adults, reported personal or familial impact from the Trump administration’s immigration policies in the last 12 months. Almost half of Hispanic adults surveyed now carry proof of citizenship or permanent residency, a chilling reminder of the fear and uncertainty instilled by these policies.

This shift in perception comes after 14 months of what the Trump administration termed “the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.” This initiative has involved the deployment of thousands of immigration agents, sometimes backed by the U.S. military, into communities to apprehend individuals residing in the country illegally. These operations have been marked by violence and disregard for human rights. The tragic deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two unarmed U.S. citizens protesting the government’s actions in Minneapolis, at the hands of ICE or CBP officers, exemplify the brutality of this approach.

“It’s just plain wrong,” said Reid Gibson, 72, a retiree from Missouri, in his response to the poll, adding, “This is not a good country for immigrants any more.” The survey also found that only a quarter of adults still believe the U.S. is welcoming to immigrants, while about one in ten believe it never was. This represents a profound shift away from America’s historical image as a beacon of hope for those seeking a better life.

The debate over birthright citizenship, fueled by the Trump administration’s attempts to overturn it via executive order (currently blocked by federal courts and under consideration by the Supreme Court), further exposes the anti-immigrant sentiment driving these policies. While a majority (65%) believe all children born in the U.S. should be entitled to citizenship regardless of their parents’ status, and 75% agree for children whose non-citizen parents are legally present, only 49% support birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented parents.