Americans are warming to President Donald Trump’s travel ban, according to a recent poll.
The poll, which asked specific questions on parts of the policy without mentioning Trump directly, showed clear support for the revised executive order.
Similar polls have given deeply varied results, suggesting that feelings toward the president may have as much to do with responses as the details of the policy itself.
Trumps initial unveiling of the executive order in January spurred confusion among enforcement agencies and garnered derisive headlines. The new Morning Consult/Politico poll shows support for the ban has grown.
When respondents were asked a week ago whether they support visa applicants from six predominantly Muslim countries having to prove “a close family relationship with a U.S. resident in order to enter the country,” 60 percent of voters supported the measure, with 37 percent strongly supporting it. Of the other 40 percent, 11 percent had no opinion, 14 percent were somewhat opposed, and 14 percent were strongly opposed.
Earlier polls were conducted before the Supreme Court gave provisional approval to the ban.
One Associated Press-NORC Center in early June showed a 57 percent majority of Americans supported the two lower courts who blocked the travel ban from coming into effect.
Trump then revised the ban and obtained the Supreme Court’s approval of major elements of the ban. The court will hear arguments from those opposed to the ban when judges return to the bench for their new term in October.
The poll shows the same partisan divide of earlier polls, however, with Republicans overwhelmingly supporting the restrictions, (84 percent) while revealing solid support among independent voters as well (56 percent in favour compared to 30 percent opposed). The poll also revealed that even among Democrats, the bill had significant support, though slightly more opposed it (41 percent in favor compared 46 percent opposed).
While most respondents supported the major categories of family exempts to the ban, the poll revealed that most would support grandparents counting as an exemption (67 percent) while being decidedly less decisive on whether a son-in-law or daughter-in-law should be exempt (44 percent in favor, 38 percent opposed).
The poll showed decisive support for immediate family, including children, parents, and spouses, being exempted from the visa ban.
The poll surveyed nearly 2,000 voters from June 29 to 30 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points, according to Morning Consult. The poll was done for Politico. Detailed results can be found at http://politi.co/2tG5Cq8 and http://politi.co/2tNM1Vj
