Immigration is a hot topic in Texas, and a new survey shows how divided people are on this issue.
The survey by the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs and Texas Southern University’s Barbara Jordan—Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs reveals deep divides in how Texans view immigration policies.
The survey reveals a significant divide between Republicans and Democrats regarding immigration. Republicans generally favor stricter immigration controls, while Democrats lean towards more lenient policies. This split is evident in the approval ratings for Texas Governor Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden.
Nearly 57% of Texans approve of Abbott’s handling of border security, either strongly or somewhat. In contrast, only 36% approve of Biden’s approach. Additionally, nearly 67% disapprove of Biden’s immigration policies, compared to 43% who disapprove of Abbott’s.
“The State of Texas is at the center of ongoing policy debates on immigration,” said Agustin Vallejo, research associate professor at Hobby School. “Due to its extensive border with Mexico, the historical cultural exchange between the two countries, and the cosmopolitan nature of its major cities, immigration policy remains a constant topic of discussion here.”
The divide becomes more pronounced when looking at party affiliation. Among Republicans, 55% strongly approve of Abbott’s policies, while 74% strongly disapprove of Biden’s. Conversely, among Democrats, 27% strongly approve of Biden’s policies, while 54% strongly disapprove of Abbott’s. Independents also prefer Abbott, with 24% strongly approving his policies compared to just 4.5% for Biden.
“When looking through a partisan lens, the results are about what you’d expect,” Vallejo commented. “But the rate at which Independents support Abbott’s policies over Biden’s is a little surprising, with Abbott’s strong disapproval at 31% compared to Biden’s at 55%.”
Generational Gaps
The survey also highlights generational differences. Older generations, such as the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers, tend to support stricter immigration policies similar to those of Abbott. Younger generations, including Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z, prefer more inclusive policies and show more support for Biden.
“The Silent Generation and Baby Boomers overwhelmingly support Abbott’s policies more than Biden’s,” noted Pablo Pinto, professor and director of the Hobby School’s Center of Public Policy. “But that gap shrinks with younger generations, where Abbott loses some support while Biden gains.”
Racial and ethnic backgrounds also influence opinions. Abbott’s policies receive higher approval from white and Hispanic respondents, with 36.7% and 23.4% strongly approving, respectively. Meanwhile, Black respondents strongly support Biden’s policies, with 20.9% strongly approving compared to 18.2% for Abbott.
The survey results vary across Texas regions. In Dallas-Fort Worth, 60.5% support Abbott’s border policies, while 42.1% support Biden’s. In Houston, 53.3% back Abbott’s approach, while 34.9% support Biden’s. In Austin, Abbott’s approval is 48.7%, very close to Biden’s 47.9%.
“Overall, the data indicates that Abbott receives high support for his policies across all regions surveyed,” Vallejo said. “But Biden’s support is very close to Abbott’s in Austin and South Texas.”
The survey also gauged Texans’ support for specific border policies. Over 61% support spending $3.5 billion on border security. A slightly higher number favor making illegal immigration a state crime and empowering Texas law enforcement to arrest undocumented immigrants. This policy received stronger backing, with 40.6% strongly supporting it compared to 27.2% for the border security funding.
