In a recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, it was found that 42% of Hispanic adults express concern over the possibility of deportation for themselves or for someone close to them.
This survey, carried out from February 24 to March 2, 2025, coincided with intensified immigration enforcement during the early weeks of President Donald Trump’s second term.
The level of apprehension among Latino adults appears consistent with sentiments expressed during both Trump’s first term and President Joe Biden’s tenure.
Moreover, the findings reveal that Latinos possess greater concerns about deportation compared to other racial and ethnic groups, including Asian, Black, and White adults.
The Pew Research Center’s analysis designed to assess the impact of immigration enforcement policies on U.S. Latinos surveyed a total of 5,123 adults, among which 693 identified as Latinos.
Participants were drawn from the American Trends Panel (ATP), which comprises individuals recruited through a national, random sampling of residential addresses.
This selection process offers a diverse demographic representation of U.S. adults, and interviews were conducted either online or through telephone calls with live interviewers.
The survey methodology employed ensured that the results are representative of the broader U.S. adult population across various demographics.
At the time of the survey, more than half of U.S. Latino respondents, totaling 57%, indicated they were not particularly worried about the prospect of deportation.
However, the responses varied significantly among different subgroups of Hispanic adults.
For instance, concerns about deportation were found to be more prevalent among Latino immigrants and U.S. born individuals with immigrant parents, as opposed to those with longer family histories in the U.S.
Looking at historical perspectives, a comparison of Latino concerns about deportation shows a troubling trend.
In March 2021, 39% of Latinos reported concern about deportation during President Biden’s administration, while 44% expressed similar worries in December 2019 during Trump’s first term.
A review of older Pew Research Center surveys reveals additional historical data on this matter.
In 2007, during George W. Bush’s presidency, 53% of Latino adults were worried about deportation, a number that dropped to 46% in 2013 while Obama was in office; however, that share surged to 55% in 2018 amid the first Trump administration.
The survey indicates that about one-third of all Latinos in the U.S., estimated at 21.4 million, are immigrants.
This figure is comparatively lower than the 56% immigrant share of the Asian American population, but significantly higher than the 10% and 4% immigrant share among Black and White populations, respectively.
Latinos make up approximately 45% of the total 47.8 million immigrants residing in the United States, with Asians constituting the next largest group at 28%.
Delving deeper into the concerns about deportation among Latino adults, the survey highlighted differences among various subgroups based on key demographics.
When comparing nativity, it was revealed that immigrant Latinos are significantly more likely to express worry about deportation than their U.S.-born counterparts—51% compared to 36%.
Examining immigrant generation, 44% of second-generation U.S.-born Latinos raised by at least one immigrant parent reported worry, while only 29% of third or higher-generation Latinos shared these concerns.
Age is another factor influencing deportation worries, as Hispanic adults aged 18 to 49 were notably more likely to express such anxieties compared to those aged 50 and older—48% versus 30%.
Political affiliation also plays a role, with about half of Latino Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (49%) reporting worries about deportation, compared to only 30% of Latino Republicans and Republican-leaning independents.
The survey further explored concerns regarding the potential for individuals to be asked to prove their citizenship or immigration status during daily activities.
Approximately 39% of immigrant Latinos and 26% of U.S.-born Latinos shared at least some level of concern about being asked to provide proof of their status.
However, despite these worries, a majority within both groups—59% of immigrant Latinos and 73% of U.S.-born Latinos—reported not being overly concerned about such inquiries.
In terms of generational differences regarding this concern, second-generation Hispanics (33%) are more worried than their third or higher-generation peers (18%).
Concerns also differ by age, with Latino adults aged 18 to 49 (36%) being more likely to express worry about proving their citizenship compared to those aged 50 and older (23%).
Political differences remain evident; 39% of Latino Democrats are worried about being asked for proof of citizenship, which is higher than the 23% of Latino Republicans who hold this view.
Moreover, the survey uncovered a prevalent opposition among Hispanic adults concerning the idea of law enforcement checking immigration status during everyday interactions.
An overwhelming 63% of Hispanic adults oppose the enforcement of such checks, in contrast to 54% of both Black and Asian adults and just 33% of White adults, the majority of whom (66%) favor such measures.
Among the various Latino subgroups, half or more expressed opposition to immigration status checks, with the exception of Latino Republicans, of whom 42% opposed these checks.
The findings of this study illuminate the varying degrees of concern among Hispanic adults regarding deportation and immigration enforcement, further highlighting the profound impact these policies have on communities across the United States.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, understanding these concerns remains crucial for policymakers and community leaders alike.
image source from：https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/04/30/latinos-worry-more-than-other-us-adults-about-deportations/
