Most Americans support travel restrictions implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19, but a poll finds disagreement over other immigration issues.

Customs and Border Protection Mark Morgan described efforts of the agency's task during the coronavirus pandemic saying, "illegal immigration, it continues -- putting American lives at risk." (August 6).

Americans across the political spectrum support temporary immigration restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but the nation remains divided when it comes to immigration enforcement, including President Donald Trump's push to expand the southern border wall, according to a national survey released Thursday.

The Public Agenda/USA TODAY/Ipsos poll also highlights a growing disconnect between Trump's hard-line immigration policies and the priorities of Republicans, who mostly support many of the immigration policies the president has tried to dismantle.

James Hollifield, a professor of political science and director of the Tower Center at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, said the broad support for closing the borders after the terrorist attacks of Sept.

"And once people start seeing how their rights are going to be affected, not just some asylum seeker at the border, I think you’ll start seeing a lot of people get really nervous about that.".

The poll echoed longstanding support among Republicans, Democrats and independents for certain aspects of immigration policy.

The poll also echoed longstanding divisions on other aspects of immigration policy.

Republicans generally favor the expansion of the southern border wall, while Democrats oppose it.

The poll revealed a disconnect between Trump's harshest immigration policies and the Republican voters who are crucial to his reelection in November. .

Yet 69% of Republicans in the poll said they not only support DACA, but they also support a path to citizenship for DACA recipients.

But 60% of Republicans support asylum for people fleeing war and violence, and 59% of Republicans support asylum for those fleeing political and religious persecution.  .

Many Republicans were also skeptical of the administration's family separation policy along the southern border, which was halted as a systemic policy by a federal judge but continues in more isolated cases

"If you really think people are streaming across the border and you feel under siege, then maybe you think, 'OK, we need to take extreme measures,'" Schleifer said