Bipartisan majorities in 11 competitive states and 28 congressional districts favor offering undocumented immigrants a pathway to legal status, according to new survey data. The results indicate substantial public common ground on comprehensive immigration reform ahead of the November midterm elections.

The Program for Public Consultation (PPC) at the University of Maryland released the findings as part of its "Common Ground in the Battlegrounds?" series. The data reveals that while immigration remains a divisive issue in Washington, DC, voters in swing regions support measures that combine enforcement with legalization options.

Legal Status and Deportation

For undocumented immigrants who have been in the US for years and have no criminal record, bipartisan majorities favor offering them a pathway to become legal residents if they pay a penalty and any owed taxes. Support ranges from 75% to 89% among Democrats and 55% to 78% among Republicans in the surveyed states and districts. Nationally, 77% of respondents overall favor this approach.

Conversely, large bipartisan majorities favor deporting undocumented immigrants convicted of a crime. In the battleground regions, support for deportation ranges from 70% to 91% among Democrats and 85% to 98% among Republicans. Nationally, 85% of respondents overall support this measure.

For those brought to the US illegally as children, large bipartisan majorities favor a path to citizenship. Support ranges from 80% to 95% among Democrats and 60% to 82% among Republicans in the surveyed areas. Nationally, 83% of respondents overall favor this proposal.

Deterrence and Asylum Processing

To deter illegal immigration for work, bipartisan majorities favor a two-part proposal requiring employers to verify new employees' legal status using E-Verify and increasing work visas in line with labor demand. Support ranges from 75% to 90% among Democrats and 67% to 89% among Republicans in the battlegrounds. Nationally, 83% of respondents overall favor this combined approach.

Additionally, bipartisan majorities favor hiring more immigration court judges to speed up asylum cases. Support ranges from 72% to 87% among Democrats and 66% to 83% among Republicans in the surveyed regions. Nationally, 76% of respondents overall favor this measure.

What the Numbers Show

The survey data highlights a divergence between national partisan gaps and local consensus in competitive districts. While national Republican support for legal status pathways (69%) trails Democratic support (84%) by 15 percentage points, the range of support in battleground states shows significant overlap, with Republican support reaching up to 78% in some districts. This suggests that while national party lines are distinct, voters in swing areas exhibit more nuanced views on immigration policy.

Survey Methodology

The state and district surveys were fielded from May 27 to June 25, 2026, among 19,564 adults. The national survey was fielded from February 11 to 26, 2026, among 2,509 adults. Response rates ranged from 7.1% to 9.0% for the state/district surveys and 7.6% for the national survey. Confidence intervals range from +/- 2.9% to 7.6%.

Marco Rubio stated the United States will penalize countries that assist Iran in gaining revenue. The warning targets nations supporting Iran following its attacks on shipping.

Policy Stance

The US position emphasizes strict consequences for third-party involvement in Iran's financial activities. Rubio linked these penalties directly to Iran's recent attacks on shipping lanes.

• The US will target countries aiding Iran's revenue generation.
• Penalties are tied to Iran's attacks on shipping.
• The statement serves as a warning to potential allies of Iran.

No specific financial figures, sanctions amounts, or dates were disclosed in the source material.