Immigration seen by Americans as top issue for Trump to tackle: Poll

WASHINGTON - Americans see immigration as the most pressing issue for President-elect Donald Trump to address, and a large majority believe he will order mass deportations of people living in the US illegally, a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Nov 7 found.

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But respondents to the two-day poll, conducted in the hours after the Republican clinched his election victory, were divided about his plans to expel large numbers of people.

Asked what Trump's top priority should be in the first 100 days following his Jan 20 inauguration, 25 per cent of respondents said he should prioritize immigration, a much larger share than any other issue.

Some 14 per cent of respondents said Trump should focus on income inequality, 12 per cent said taxes, and smaller shares picked healthcare, crime, jobs or the environment.

Some 82 per cent of respondents in the poll considered it likely that Trump would order mass deportations, including similar shares of Democrats and Republicans.

Many said they are concerned about the expected policy, including 82 per cent of Democrats and 40 per cent of independents.