KFF-AP Poll Finds Rural Voters Split on Immigration Crackdown Effects

A KFF-Associated Press survey of more than 2,000 rural voters conducted in August finds rural America divided on whether President Trump's immigration enforcement has helped or hurt their communities, with about a third saying it was positive, a third saying negative, and roughly three in ten reporting no impact. Despite this split, about 7 in 10 rural voters say immigrants with legal status and seasonal agricultural workers are important to their local economies. Rural voters are less likely than the general public to believe Trump has "gone too far" on immigration enforcement, with only about 4 in 10 saying so compared to 55% of U.S. adults overall. A Harvard health policy researcher cited in the poll noted that research shows immigrants use less healthcare than native-born Americans, countering claims that immigration strains the healthcare system.