Rural voters are mixed on Trump's immigration policies, but some feel he has gone too far

Feelings about the Trump administration's immigration reform are mixed in rural areas, according to a new poll from KFF Health News and The Associated Press. Of the 2,000 rural people polled in August, about one-third said immigration enforcement had been positive for their communities, and another third said it had been negative. 

But even with these results, KFF Health News and the AP report that "many rural voters also say immigrants are a key part of their local economies, and some believe Trump’s immigration actions have gone too far." Laura Leigh Taylor is once such Trump voter, who now says she regrets her vote because his policies forced the deportation of her friend's father. 

Results of the poll also found that three-quarters of rural voters want midterm candidates to talk about immigration because it's "extremely" or "very" important to them. A significant portion of rural voters don’t think "Trump’s immigration policies have helped their communities," but the poll found "they are also less likely than the general public to say that Trump has overstepped in his efforts."

Rural voters, however, are keenly aware that immigrants help sustain local industries such as manufacturing, healthcare and agriculture. KFF Health News and the AP report that "the vast majority of rural voters see immigrants in the country legally as an important part of their local economies."