New Jersey, a state of immigrants, has long been supportive of newcomers.

More than a decade ago, a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll found those living here believed by a better than two-to-one margin legal immigration was good for the Garden State.

More than six out of 10 said they thought unauthorized immigrants who lived and worked in the United States for at least two years ought to be allowed to keep their jobs and eventually apply for legal status. Only 32 percent of New Jersey residents favored deporting unauthorized immigrants back to their native countries, the poll found.

These days, the issue is on the front burner and heating up, with the Trump administration making aggressive immigration enforcement a particular focus of the Department of Homeland Security.

And that effort has resonated with some.

Rising anger

According to the Center for Immigration Studies, a research group that opposes high levels of immigration, the Obama administration "prohibited U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from taking into custody any illegal aliens, even known gang members, for minor offenses or immigration violations."

The center said the Trump administration "is reversing the feckless non-enforcement policies of its predecessor."

In actuality, data shows that the number of deportations actually soared under the Obama administration, although those enforcement policies were targeted at violent criminals and those posing national security threats. Under Trump, the administration vastly expanded the groups prioritized for deportation.

Many responding to stories about enforcement initiatives by ICE, meanwhile, say the administration should do even more to kick out those who did not come here through legal immigration.

"You forgot to use the word 'ILLEGAL!'" complained one commenter, in reaction to a recent NJ.com headline about an ICE crackdown that led to nearly 100 arrests earlier this year.

Jim Hannon of Lebanon said politicians who choose to enforce only the immigration laws they personally agree with should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

"Their conduct fosters anarchy," he said. "We have a means to change laws. Until laws are changed, enforce the law."

Hannon, who like many sees the issue in political terms, said he is convinced "Democrats are more interested in providing handouts to illegal aliens then providing a hand-up to U.S. citizens. Shameful!"

But have attitudes about immigration changed that much in the past decade?

A Pew Research Center study in October found that most Americans actually have a positive view of the contributions of immigrants to the country.

About two-thirds said immigrants strengthen the country because of their hard work and talents.

Another 26 percent said immigrants were a burden "because they take jobs, housing and health care."

More recently, a Monmouth University Poll on the status of the so-called "Dreamers"--those who were brought to this country illegally with their families when they were children and grew up here--found the vast majority of Americans nationwide say they should stay in this country. And most said they opposed the building of a border wall.

According to Monmouth Poll Director Patrick Murray, most Americans agree that illegal immigration is a serious problem, but they are looking for less draconian solutions, not just for Dreamers, but for other illegal immigrants who are already in the country.

Those who work with immigrants seeking asylum or challenging deportation orders see a demonizing of groups who have always made their way to this country to find a better life or new opportunity, bolstered by an administration that has not only stepped up enforcement efforts against illegal immigration, but moved to sharply limit legal immigration as well.

"I do believe that the administration's anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies have emboldened individuals and groups who see their hateful and xenophobic views validated by the federal government," remarked Nicole Miller, legal services director of the American Friends Services Committee's Immigrant Rights Program.

Miller said the administration's "false narrative around immigration, which criminalizes and dehumanizes immigrant communities, is nothing more than fear-mongering meant to scare the public into accepting aggressive and harmful immigration enforcement."

Brigid Harrison, a professor of political science and law at Montclair State University, whose daughter is a legal immigrant from China, said she has noticed "a significant uptick in the swath of anti-immigration rhetoric, on a personal, boots-on-the-ground level."

Harrison said anti-immigration rhetoric generally increases as a result of people's own economic uncertainty.

"During economic downturns, people want someone to blame and immigrants are a perfect foil because when we view economic bounty as finite, other people's successes negatively impact our own livelihoods," she said.

The country has witnessed anti-immigrant attitudes in the past. In the 1860s, there was virulent anti-Irish sentiment and Chinese immigrants were targeted through the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Geary Act in the 1890's, noted Harrison.

"During the campaign, Mr. Trump exploited this tendency, particularly among economically-vulnerable populations," she observed. "But his message has resonated with many, particularly when it is combined with the imagery of 'illegal immigrants' being criminals."

That message has been embraced by other political candidates, including Kim Guadagno during last year's gubernatorial election," Harrison charged.

Demonstrators protest the deportation of immigrants. (Scott Olson | Getty Images)

The view from Jersey

New Jersey has a large immigrant population, both legal and unauthorized. According to the American Immigration Council, more than one in five residents--some 2 million people--are foreign-born. The group, which promotes immigrant rights, estimated that about 500,000 are unautorized immigrants.

About half of all immigrants in the state are naturalized U.S. citizens, said the council.

Still, there is much anger, acknowledged immigration activist Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale, who has offered his Reformed Church of Highland Park as sanctuary for those fearing arrest on immigration charges.

"There are real issues in America that hurt poor people across the board and we have a lot of people who don't really know what to do with that," Kaper-Dale remarked recently. "So instead of lashing out against the 1 percent, they lash out at people who the political system has helped paint as the problem. That's immigrants."

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.