Workers harvest green leaf lettuce at Roth Farms on January 9, 2025 in western Palm Beach county, Florida.
Los Angeles, California – As President Trump ramps up his efforts to deport unauthorized immigrants across the country, a new survey reveals a very different sentiment in California: strong support for extending public services to undocumented residents.
According to a poll of 800 voters conducted by David Binder Research, a majority of Californians support policies that ensure access to healthcare, food assistance, and other services for low-income residents, regardless of immigration status. The findings stand in stark contrast to the Trump administration’s hardline immigration rhetoric and mass deportation plans.
“Californians understand what a vital role immigrants play in ensuring quality of life for all,” said Miguel Santana, president of the California Community Foundation, which commissioned the survey. “They want to make sure basic services like access to healthcare are available to everyone.”
Among the key findings:
- Over two-thirds of respondents support allowing all Californians — regardless of immigration status — to purchase health insurance through Covered California, the state’s marketplace.
- 64% support food assistance for all eligible low-income families, even if the parents are undocumented.
- 57% support allowing undocumented residents to access care through Medi-Cal, the state’s public health insurance program.
California made national headlines last year when it became the first state to offer Medi-Cal coverage to all low-income undocumented residents. While critics have cited rising program costs, supporters say the move reflects California’s values — and the economic realities of a state where immigrants play a vital role.
About 27% of Californians — more than 10 million people — are foreign-born, the highest share of any state. Roughly 1.8 million of those are undocumented, and they account for approximately 7% of the state’s workforce, according to the Pew Research Center.
The survey found that even moderate and swing voters worry about the economic fallout from Trump’s immigration crackdown. Concerns include labor shortages in farming and construction, rising grocery costs, and disruptions to small businesses.
“People are nervous that mass deportations are going to hit their wallets,” said pollster David Binder. “They see undocumented immigrants as essential workers — not threats.”
In contrast to national polls showing support for Trump’s policies, the California results suggest that residents see immigration as an issue of shared well-being, not criminality. Six in 10 voters also support access to legal due process for all Californians, regardless of immigration status or criminal history.
“This poll confirms what we know: Californians believe in a California for all,” said Masih Fouladi of the California Immigrant Policy Center. “They want a future where everyone is included — not left behind.”
