Story highlights DACA popular across party lines: 96% of Democrats, 72% of Republicans back it

Trump approval rating up 5 points to 40%, Congress approval at 18%

6 in 10 lack confidence Trump and Congress will improve immigration laws

Washington (CNN) With hours to go before a midnight deadline for Congress to fund the government or shut it down, most Americans say avoiding a shutdown is more important than passing a bill to maintain the program allowing people brought to the US illegally as children to stay, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS.

But Democrats taking a hard line on legislation connecting government funding to the popular program known as DACA appear to have the backing of their constituents, and more overall say President Donald Trump or the Republicans in Congress would be responsible for a shutdown if one happens.

Which is more important... avoiding a shutdown or continuing DACA? A majority of Americans says it supports keeping the government open over finding a solution for the DACA program. Avoiding a shutdown 56% Continuing DACA 34% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Source: CNN poll conducted by SSRS, Jan. 14-18, 2018. 1,005 adults, ±3.7% pts.

Overall, about half of Americans say they would blame either Trump (21%) or his Republican counterparts in Congress (26%) should Congress fail to fund the government by the midnight Friday deadline. About a third, 31%, say they would hold the Democrats in Congress responsible, and another 10% say they'd blame all three groups. Among Republicans, 62% would blame the Democrats in Congress, while 43% of Democrats would blame Republicans on Capitol Hill and 29% would blame Trump.

Still, 56% overall say approving a budget agreement to avoid a shutdown is more important than continuing the DACA program, while just 34% choose DACA over a shutdown. Democrats break narrowly in favor of DACA -- 49% say it's more important vs. 42% who say avoiding a shutdown is the priority -- while majorities of both Republicans (75%) and independents (57%) say avoiding a shutdown is more important.

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