Polling: Perceived Overeach Eroding ICE Support

Recent polling indicates that public support for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has indeed been declining, particularly in the context of aggressive enforcement actions during the second Trump administration.

This trend has accelerated following high-profile incidents, such as the January 2026 fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, which sparked widespread protests and scrutiny of the agency's tactics.

Key recent polls highlight this shift:

• A YouGov poll conducted around January 7-12, 2026 (snap poll on the day of the shooting and follow-ups) showed 52% disapproving of how ICE handles its job, compared to 39% approving — a net disapproval. Additionally, 51% viewed ICE tactics as "too forceful" (vs. 27% saying "about right"). Support for abolishing ICE has surged, with more Americans now favoring it than opposing in some surveys (e.g., 46% favor vs. slightly less oppose in one Economist/YouGov poll from January 9-12, 2026). This marks a major change from early 2025, when ICE had a net positive rating (around +16 points in February 2025 polls).
• A CNN/SSRS poll (released January 14, 2026) found 51% of Americans believe ICE enforcement actions are making cities less safe, versus only 31% saying safer (18% little effect). Roughly half saw the Minneapolis shooting as indicative of broader issues with ICE operations.
• Quinnipiac University poll (January 2026) reported 57% of voters against how ICE enforces immigration laws (40% support).

Other data points include a shift in net approval: from positive pre-2025 to negative territory (e.g., -13 points in some YouGov tracking post-incident). Support for abolishing ICE rose from around 24% opposition-heavy in early 2025 to higher favorability for abolition in 2026 polls (e.g., up to 42% in Civiqs tracking cited in reports).

This decline ties to perceptions of overreach in mass deportations, forceful tactics, and incidents like the Minneapolis shooting. Earlier trends (mid-2025) already showed disapproval rising (e.g., 53-56% in YouGov/Quinnipiac polls), but recent events amplified it. 

Views remain sharply partisan: 

• Republicans largely support ICE and its actions (e.g., majorities see operations as making cities safer), 
• Democrats and independents drive the disapproval.

Overall, while support for some immigration enforcement persists (e.g., targeting criminals), broad approval of ICE's current approach and operations has fallen significantly in 2025-2026 polling.