Houston Study Shows 750,000 Residents Affected by Immigration Raids

A major research study by Rice University found that more than 750,000 people in the Houston area personally know someone who was detained or deported during 2025 immigration enforcement. The Kinder Institute surveyed over 9,000 adults in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. One in seven residents had a personal connection to someone affected, with higher rates in Hispanic communities (25%), immigrants (21%), and low-income families (24%). The study also found changing opinions: support for mass deportation dropped from 57% to 49% even among conservative residents, while support for citizenship pathways rose from 70% to 75%. Most people (82%) now say the immigration system isn't working well. The researchers noted this could impact Houston's economy, schools, and community planning. This is the first study to track how local families and neighborhoods experience immigration enforcement policies firsthand.

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