A dramatic shift in American public opinion regarding immigration enforcement has emerged, according to recent polling data. During the 2024 election cycle, most Americans expressed support for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, but now a growing number favour abolishing the very agency tasked with carrying out those operations.
From Deportation Support to Agency Opposition
President Donald Trump campaigned vigorously on implementing what he described as the largest deportation initiative in American history. Throughout the past year, his administration has pursued this goal through the Department of Homeland Security, deploying federal agents to major urban centres for removal operations. A CBS News/YouGov poll conducted in June 2024 indicated substantial public backing for this approach, with sixty-two percent of Americans favouring the deportation of all undocumented immigrants.
However, as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids have intensified across the country, public sentiment has undergone a notable transformation. A fresh YouGov survey reveals that forty-six percent of Americans now somewhat or strongly support abolishing ICE altogether. This figure surpasses the forty-one percent who somewhat or strongly oppose dismantling the agency, with another twelve percent remaining uncertain about the issue.
Partisan Divides and Independent Sentiment
The polling data reveals stark contrasts along political lines. Among Democrats, an overwhelming seventy-six percent support abolishing ICE, while seventy-three percent of Republicans oppose such a move. Independent voters show a more nuanced position, with forty-seven percent supporting the agency's abolition compared to thirty-five percent who oppose it, indicating a significant portion of the electorate moving away from traditional enforcement approaches.
Tragic Events in Minneapolis
This shift in public opinion follows two fatal incidents involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis this month. The most recent tragedy occurred when Border Patrol officers shot and killed thirty-seven-year-old Alex Pretti on a Saturday after a confrontation between agents and civilians escalated dramatically.
According to available footage of the incident, officers wrestled Pretti to the ground before retrieving a firearm from his waistband. Multiple shots were then fired at the Minneapolis resident. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that federal agents were conducting an operation targeting an undocumented immigrant when an individual approached Border Patrol officers with a handgun. She claimed one officer "fired defensive shots" after "fearing for his life," though footage suggests Pretti was holding only a phone during the confrontation.
Earlier this month, another thirty-seven-year-old Minneapolis resident, Renee Good, was fatally shot by a federal agent while behind the wheel of her car. The Trump administration similarly characterised that shooting as an act of self-defence by the officer involved.
Growing Discontent with Enforcement Tactics
The YouGov poll indicates substantial public dissatisfaction with current immigration enforcement methods. Nearly half of Americans, forty-eight percent, strongly disapprove of how ICE is handling its responsibilities, with an additional nine percent somewhat disapproving. When questioned about ICE's operational tactics, fifty-eight percent described them as excessively forceful.
This discontent extends to broader presidential approval ratings. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows President Trump's overall approval rating has declined to thirty-eight percent. Specifically regarding immigration policy, fifty-three percent of Americans disapprove of the president's handling of this complex issue, while just thirty-nine percent express approval.
The evolving public sentiment suggests that while Americans initially supported aggressive deportation measures, direct experience with their implementation has prompted significant reconsideration of immigration enforcement approaches and the agencies responsible for executing them.
