Public opinion of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) went downhill after a fatal shooting in Minnesota, with new polling showing growing disapproval of the agency and rising support for protests against its aggresive tactics.The shift came a day after a federal officer fatally shot a 37-year-old mother in Minneapolis, shooting her 3-4 times in the face in ‘self-defence’.
A YouGov poll conducted that day among more than 2,600 American adults found that a majority now disapprove of how ICE is operating, as US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown intensifies.According to the poll, 52 per cent of respondents said they somewhat or strongly disapproved of ICE’s performance, compared with 39 per cent who approved. Only 27 per cent felt the agency’s tactics were “about right”, while 51 per cent described them as “too forceful”. Another 10 per cent said they were not forceful enough.The survey also found that public sympathy has shifted towards demonstrators. About 44 per cent of adults said they approved of recent protests against ICE, while 42 per cent disapproved.These findings were opposite to those of last year’s. In February 2025, at the start of Trump’s second term, ICE held a net approval rating of plus 16, according to YouGov. Over the course of the year, that figure dropped by 30 points to minus 14, as tougher enforcement measures took hold. These included plans linked to top White House aide Stephen Miller to arrest as many as 3,000 people per day.Moreover, nearly six in ten Americans, or 58 per cent, said they believe a war or conflict is taking place in US cities. Just 26 per cent disagreed. Older Americans were most likely to feel this way, with 74 per cent of those aged 65 and above saying they see a conflict unfolding.At the same time, support for abolishing ICE has risen. Data from research firm Civiqs shows that in September 2024, only 19 per cent supported abolishing the agency, while 66 per cent opposed it. This month, support has climbed to 42 per cent, with opposition falling to 49.5 per cent. Among Democrats, abolishing ICE has become a majority view, backed by 69 per cent.The backlash comes against a backdrop of already weakening approval for Trump’s immigration agenda. Multiple polls over the past year show his ratings on immigration falling to new lows, despite a sharp drop in illegal border crossings.A Reuters Ipsos poll found that 54 per cent of Americans disagreed with the statement that workplace immigration arrests are good for the country. Another NPR PBS News Marist poll showed that 54 per cent of adults believed ICE had gone too far in enforcing immigration laws.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to rank among Americans’ least popular federal agencies, according to Pew Research Center. Republicans have grown more favourable towards DHS, and Democratic support has dropped sharply.
