More than half of New York voters oppose temporarily housing migrants in dormitories on State University of New York campuses, a Siena College survey released Wednesday found.
The poll found 54% of voters opposed to the idea, with 33% supporting it. Democrats are split over the issue, with 41% of party-enrolled voters in favor of the housing idea and 41% opposing it.
Republicans and independents remain solidly against it with 79% of Republicans and 55% of independent voters opposing housing migrants at SUNY campuses, the poll found.
Gov. Kathy Hochul had initially suggested SUNY campuses as well as a variety of state-owned properties could be used as temporary migrant shelters amid an influx of people entering New York. Mayor Eric Adams in May began moving some migrants on a volunteer basis to communities outside of the city, leading to an outcry from some local officials and a flurry of legal challenges.
The poll found 46% of voters oppose Adams' migrant plan with 40% in favor. New Yorkers are split along geographic lines: 51% of New York City voters back Adams; 52% of upstate and 52% of suburban voters oppose the move.
Hochul in recent weeks has called for additional federal support for migrants, including an expedited process for migrants with asylum seeker status to be able to legally work in New York. The state has also set aside $1 billion to support migrant services and programs; the money is about a third of what Adams has said he needs to address the issue.
Voters, meanwhile, continue to have a mixed view of the governor. Hochul has a 42% favorable rating, while 43% of voters hold an unfavorable view of her. A combined 48% of voters hold a positive view of the job Hochul is doing as governor while a combined 44% hold a disapproving view.
Half of voters believe New York is heading in the wrong direction. By a margin of 61% to 32%, most New York voters believe the country as a whole is heading in the wrong direction.
Voters in New York are also split over President Joe Biden: 47% hold a favorable view of him, 47% do not. Former President Donald Trump, who is currently seeking the Republican nomination, remains unpopular with voters overall in New York: 61% hold an unfavorable view of him, 33% have a favorable view.
The poll of 817 registered voters was conducted from June 20 to June 25. It has a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points.