Two in three Hispanic voters want a path to citizenship

A new survey by My Code’s Intelligence Center found that 66% of Hispanic voters in the United States support immigration policies that offer a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. The study, titled Culture 360 Political Tracker Wave 15, was conducted between May 27 and July 8 and released in September 2026. It polled 3,219 U.S. citizens aged 18 to 64, including 651 Hispanic respondents.

The data indicates that personal experience with federal enforcement measures is common among this demographic. Thirty percent of Hispanic voters said they know a close relative, friend, or coworker affected by Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Another 19% identified someone in their broader community or social circle who faced similar consequences. Only 45% reported knowing no one personally affected by these actions.

Hispanic voters reported higher levels of personal impact compared to other groups. Nineteen percent of Black voters said they knew a close contact affected by the policies, while 17% of Asian American voters and non-multicultural voters shared the same figure. My Code researchers noted that the survey treated personal experience and policy preference as separate questions. Therefore, the results do not prove that knowing an affected individual directly causes a preference for legal status.

When asked whether the government should focus on border security or reform laws to create a path to citizenship, 39% of Hispanic voters chose the latter. An additional 27% believed both measures deserved equal attention. Together, these two groups represent the 66% majority favoring an option that includes access to citizenship. Preference for legal pathways was consistent across other studied communities, with support ranging from 63% to 72%.

These findings align with operational data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to records analyzed by the Deportation Data Project and published by NPR, ICE recorded 49,571 immigration arrests in July 2026. These figures represent detentions rather than final deportations, as individuals may remain in custody or face ongoing legal proceedings.

The political implications of these policies are clear ahead of the November 3 legislative elections. A Reuters/Ipsos poll published on October 5 found that only 24% of Hispanics approve of Trump’s management. Meanwhile, 52% of registered Latino voters said they intend to support Democratic candidates, compared to 26% who back Republicans. A separate Marquette Law School survey found that 49% of Americans approve of Trump’s border security performance, a figure higher than his 37% general presidential approval rating.