Cygnal: sample = 1,004 likely 2026 midterm voters; margin of error ±3.1 percentage points (typical for n≈1,000). Harvard-Harris: sample = 1,321 U.S. adults; reported margin of error ±2.7 percentage points. (Sources: Cygnal release and Harvard-Harris poll memo.)
Cygnal and Harvard-Harris used direct, policy-framed questions (e.g., “Do you support deporting illegal aliens?”; “Should local jails hand over criminal undocumented immigrants to federal authorities?”). Such wording—using terms like “illegal,” “criminal,” or emphasizing enforcement—tends to raise support for stricter action compared with neutral or rights-focused wording, so question wording can meaningfully influence responses.
The White House article uses “criminal illegal aliens” to mean unauthorized immigrants who have been convicted of crimes; it contrasts that category with broader “illegal” or “unauthorized” immigrants. The polls themselves often asked about deporting those convicted of crimes versus all unauthorized immigrants, treating ‘criminal’ as a subcategory.
Typical local cooperation with ICE includes (1) jails honoring ICE detainers or transferring detainees to federal custody, (2) 287(g) agreements training/local officers to enforce federal immigration law, and (3) information-sharing or notification policies (e.g., prior notice of release).
Cygnal and Harvard-Harris describe themselves as nonpartisan/independent firms; Harvard-Harris is a regular national pollster with academic ties, while Cygnal is a private Republican-leaning firm often used by conservative clients. Both have methodological disclosures; Cygnal’s partisan weighting and client base have led some analysts to view it as more favorable to Republicans.
Cygnal’s sample was 1,004 likely voters with partisan breakdowns provided in its memo (roughly balanced but skewed to turnout models); Harvard-Harris’s sample of 1,321 adults included oversamples to report subgroup results. Both report party, region, age, and race cross-tabs in their detailed memos—samples are weighted to match U.S. voter/adult demographics but subgroup margins of error are larger.
The article says the administration will continue and expand enforcement: mass deportations of criminal unauthorized immigrants, empower ICE to enforce federal law, and seek state/local cooperation (e.g., transfers from jails). Specific new statutory proposals were not listed in the piece.