CNN data analyst Harry Enten confirmed Tuesday that legal immigrants—those who followed the law to become U.S. citizens—have become one of the most conservative-leaning voter groups on immigration. According to CNN data, this group shifted from favoring Democrats by 32 points in 2020 to favoring Republicans by 8 points in 2024—a massive 40-point swing.
Enten stated, “More so than any other group that I could find, the group of voters that became more hawkish on immigration were, in fact, immigrants themselves.” He also noted that legal immigrant citizens have turned sharply negative in their views toward illegal immigration. In 2020, they held a +23% net favorability toward illegal immigrants. By 2024, that rating had plunged to -6%.
Former President Trump’s support among immigrant citizens has also surged—from 36% in 2016 to 47% in 2024. Enten emphasized that “no block of voters shifted more to the right from 2020 to 2024 than immigrant voters.”
This dramatic shift reflects disillusionment with the Biden administration’s border policies. Under Democrat leadership, an estimated 10 million illegal immigrants entered the U.S., overwhelming public services, straining budgets, and creating security concerns. Legal immigrants, who worked hard to earn citizenship, now see those policies as both unjust and damaging.
CNN’s own reporting now confirms what many conservatives have long argued: Americans—regardless of background—expect the rule of law to be upheld. Legal immigrants, in particular, increasingly reject open-border policies and align more with the Republican stance on national sovereignty and immigration enforcement.
