Polling taken early this month showed majority support for a general expression of President Trump's controversial plan to halt immigration from 'terror-prone' countries.

Word of Trump's new executive order halting immigration from nine countries, which at first was applied even to green card holders from Iraq and other listed nations, spared immediate protests at airports among those arguing it was ill-advised, un-American or even unconstitutional.

But a Quinnipiac poll taken in early January, as the order was being contemplated but before Trump took the oath of office, showed support not only for an immigration crackdown but for a 'Muslim registry,' an idea Trump also promoted on the campaign trail.

American voters backed suspending immigration from such 'terror prone' countries by 48 to 42, the survey revealed.

American voters backed suspending immigration from 'terror prone' countries by 48 to 42, the survey revealed. A new group of 40 Syrian refugees arrive at Fiumicino airport in Rome following a flight from Beirut

The question didn't get into the specifics of which countries would be on the list, or how it would be decided. Civil liberties groups have blasted Trump's order for including several war-ravaged countries (Iraq, Syria, Sudan), but leaving out Saudi Arabia and Egypt, home to most of the Sept. 11th hijackers.

All the countries included have Muslim majority populations. Also excluded are countries with whom Trump has maintained business interests, such as the United Arab Emirates.

The findings were similar to the response in November shortly after the elections, when voters backed restrictions on immigration from 'terror prone' countries by 50 to 44.

A second question revealed 53 to 41 per cent support for “requiring immigrants from Muslim countries to register with the federal government.”

What isn't clear is whether that support will move once voters focus on some of the real-world implications of the policy.

The policy drew a backlash from allied leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, drew reciprocal responses from governments in Iran and Iraq, and got criticized by some lawmakers, including Arizona Senator John McCain.

It isn't yet clear how public opinion might be shaped by coverage of the order and its ramifications. Media reports in the immediate aftermath of protests have pointed on the effect on individuals, such as a former Iraqi translator who assisted U.S. troops being detained, and an 83-year-old Iranian grandmother who was detained after her flight to Dulles International airport despite holding a green card.

A Quinnipiac University survey in early January probed support for some of Donald Trump's policies

A Quinnipiac University survey in early January probed support for some of Donald Trump's policies

A Quinnipiac University survey in early January probed support for some of Donald Trump's policies

Demonstrators block traffic at the international arrival terminal as they protest against muslim immigration ban at San Francisco International Airport

Rania Elias, a Syrian refugee, wipes aways tears as US Senator Charles Schumer, D-NY, speaks during a press conference to push for an overturn of President Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigration to the United States for refugees and some Muslim travelers

President Donald Trump accused Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of using 'fake tears' to mobilize protesters Sunday as the aftermath of a new refugee travel ban policy took hold

The Delta Airlines computer outage stranded customers nationwide on Sunday

Hundreds of people attend an evening rally at Washington Square Park in support of Muslims, immigrants and against the building of a wall along the Mexican border on January 25 in New York

'Any time there is a huge public reaction to any pol you’ve got to figure it’ll shift one way or the other,' pollster Tim Malloy told DailyMail.com

Despite the recent backing for a crackdown, the public has consistently supported providing relief for longtime residents who came here illegally.

The survey had 59 percent support for the idea that illegal immigrants should get to stay in the U.S. and 'eventually apply for U.S. citizenship.'

The poll was taken between January 5 and January 9.

The results come as Trump and his White House team have been going after protesters in a bid to tamp down the opposition.

Trump 'is basically saying to people, 'You protested my nomination, you protested my candidacy, you protested my election, you protested my inauguration, you protest the day after my inauguration, you're protesting the executive order, you're protesting – how about this cooperation and collaboration, this quote bipartisan that we're always talking about?' Conway told ABC's 'Good Morning America' Monday.

'The only person doing that is President Trump,' Conway said.

Trump mocked U.S. senator Charles Schumer for having 'fake tears' when he emotionally called the ban 'un-American.'

Trump ripped into Schumer on Monday. 'I noticed that Chuck Schumer yesterday, with fake tears – I'm going to ask him who's his acting coach,' Trump said at the White House. 'Because I know him very well. I don't see him as a crier. If he is he's a different man. There's about a 5 per cent chance that it was real, but I think it was fake tears.'