**Rural Americans Divided Over Trump’s Immigration Policies, AP–KFF Poll Finds**
Rural voters are split over how President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement has affected their communities, according to an AP–KFF report published October 5. About one-third describe the impact as positive, while another third consider it negative. Roughly three in ten report no impact. The findings show that rural opinion is far from uniform.
Despite those divisions, many respondents recognize immigrants’ contribution to local economies. Around seven in ten consider immigrants living legally in the United States economically important. A similar proportion say the same about temporary or seasonal agricultural workers. Respondents connected to farming are especially likely to emphasize the importance of seasonal labor.
Immigration also remains a significant election issue for rural voters. Approximately three-quarters want midterm candidates to discuss it, although living costs and healthcare expenses rank higher. About four in ten believe Trump has gone too far on restricting legal immigration or deporting people without authorization. Support for his approach is stronger among rural voters who identify with the MAGA movement.
The survey included 2,241 registered voters in rural communities and was conducted from August 12 to 24, 2026. Its overall margin of sampling error is approximately three percentage points. The October 5 publication reports public attitudes collected in August, rather than a new immigration measure. It announces no changes to visa requirements, residency rights or deportation rules.