Americans are split over President Barack Obama 's latest immigration move , but they 've become less sympathetic to immigrants here illegally over the past year , a new nationwide poll finds . According to the poll , conducted by Quinnipiac University and published Tuesday , just 45 percent of Americans believe Obama should issue an executive order to address the immigration issue if Congress fails to act , while 48 percent oppose such a move . The number of Americans who believe those here illegally should be allowed to stay and given a path to citizenship has dropped since last November , however — now , only 48 percent believe they should stay , compared to 57 percent who said the same in 2013 . And the number of Americans who say illegal immigrants should leave the U.S. is at an all-time high in the new poll . Thirty-five percent of respondents said they should be required to leave , up from 26 percent last year . But while Americans might be split on how to tackle the country 's immigration problem , they agree on one thing — that shutting down the government is not an appropriate response to Obama 's move , a tactic floated by some Republicans . Americans oppose such a move 68-25 percent . Still , Obama 's unilateral action has likely contributed to his strikingly low approval rating in the survey . With just 39 percent of Americans approving of his job performance in the latest Quinnipiac poll , he 's nearing his all-time low approval rating of 38 percent . Fifty-four percent disapprove of the job he 's doing . And Americans now trust Republicans in Congress more to do what 's best for the nation than Obama , by 47-42 percent . While the poll shows a majority of Americans , 51 percent , are happy the GOP has taken over the Senate , two-thirds of the nation expects more gridlock over the next two years , and they 're split over who will be to blame . Forty-four percent believe it will be Obama 's fault , while 42 percent blame Republicans . The survey was conducted among 1,623 registered voters from Nov. 18-23 with live interviews via landline and cell phone , and has a margin of error of 2.4 percent .
A new poll out from Quinnipiac University finds a split on approval of Obama 's tax plan . Forty - five percent of Americans , a new high , believe those here illegally should be required to work . At 39 percent approval , Obama is nearing his all - time low approval rating of 38 percent .