A recent poll by Axios Vibes, conducted by The Harris Poll, revealed a surprising trend: Half of Americans expressed support for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. This support appears to be driven by a growing concern about issues such as crime, drugs and violence, amplified by increasingly anti-immigration political rhetoric.

The poll results show that whites make up the largest demographic in favor of mass deportations, with 56 percent support, followed by 45 percent of Latinos. Politically, 68 percent of supporters were Republicans, while 42 percent were Democrats.

The president of The Harris Poll, Mark Penn, expressed surprise at these figures, suggesting they could be interpreted as a warning to politicians to deal with the issue of immigration. He noted that this stance may reflect a desire for control over the problem, especially after years of intense political debate on the issue, as reported by Latin Times.

During his re-election campaign, Trump promised the "largest domestic deportation operation in American history" targeting the estimated 10.5 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. His commitment to this approach lasted until the final stretch of his presidency.

However, the survey also showed that Americans value legal immigration and support expanding legal pathways to orderly immigration. The anxiety seems to be centered on illegal immigration, which is perceived to cause significant problems in communities.

Despite the expressed support for legal immigration, the poll also highlighted concerns among Latinos about the risk of being targeted for mass deportation should Trump win the election. This suggests a divide in perceptions and concerns within the Latino community regarding immigration.

Meanwhile, skepticism remains about the feasibility and human costs associated with mass deportation programs. While there is public support for addressing the issue of immigration, there is also concern about the human and social implications of these proposed measures.