Is US public opinion turning against ICE?

 

Is US public opinion turning against ICE?

As of January 2026, U.S. public opinion has significantly soured on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Recent polling shows that a majority of Americans now view the agency unfavorably, with support for radical changes—including abolishing the agency—reaching record highs.

This shift has been driven largely by a widely reported incident on January 7, 2026, in which an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Good, a mother of three, during an operation in Minneapolis.

 

Key Public Opinion Trends (January 2026)

• Recent polls from major organizations reflect a decisive turn against ICE's current operations:
• Overall Disapproval: A New York Times/Siena poll released on January 23, 2026, found that 63% of voters disapprove of how ICE is handling its job, including 70% of independent voters.
• Use of Force: Approximately 61% of Americans believe ICE tactics are "too tough" or have "gone too far".
• Perceived Safety: For the first time, a majority of Americans (51–52%) believe ICE operations are making U.S. cities "less safe" rather than more safe.
• Support for Abolition: Support for the "Abolish ICE" movement has surged to roughly 42–46%, surpassing the level of opposition (43–45%) in some major polls like the Economist/YouGov survey.

 

Factors Driving the Shift

• The decline in popularity is attributed to several visceral events and policy changes during the current administration:
• The Renee Good Shooting: Most Americans (53–56%) believe the fatal shooting of Renee Good was an inappropriate or unjustified use of force and a sign of systemic problems rather than an isolated incident.
• Mass Deportation Tactics: Public backlash has grown as images of masked agents conducting raids in major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolis have become widespread.
• Impact on Citizens: Polling indicates that 55% of Americans believe ICE "sometimes or often" wrongfully arrests U.S. citizens.
•  

Political Divide

Opinion remains starkly polarized by party affiliation. While Democrats (90%) and Independents (59–62%) increasingly support major restrictions or the elimination of ICE, the agency retains strong support among Republicans, approximately 79% of whom still approve of its performance. However, even among Republicans, nearly one in five (19%) now feel the agency’s tactics have "gone too far".