Poll: ICE

This Navigator Research report covers Trump’s handling of immigration and mass deportations as well as messaging guidance on ICE.

Views Of Trump’s Handling Of Immigration And Mass Deportations

Americans’ approval of President Trump’s handling of immigration continues to fall to a net -12. Just two months ago, before Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed by federal immigration officials, Trump’s net approval on immigration was at -7. Net approval of Trump’s handling of immigration is notably low among women (net -17 approval), people between 18 and 34 years of age (net -21 approval), people of color (net -40 approval), and independents (net -27 approval).

Nearly six-in-10 (59%) oppose the way Trump has deployed ICE. Similarly, majorities (52%) also disapprove of Trump’s mass deportation blame. In January 2025, a majority (51%) approved of Trump’s mass deportation plan.

For the first time since November, a majority (51%) say they’ve seen mostly negative news about Trump recently. ICE and immigration have dominated the positive and negative news coverage of Trump.

Americans Do Not Agree With Trump’s Mass Deportation Agenda

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of Americans say the Trump administration should mainly target their deportations towards those with convictions and criminal records. However, 64% say that the Trump administration is doing the opposite, targeting all undocumented people for deportation, regardless of whether or not they have a criminal record.

Two-thirds (66%) of Americans support a balanced approach on immigration that focuses on fixing a broken system rather than a system focused on strict enforcement and mass deportations (25% support). This includes a plurality (48%) of 2024 Trump voters.

Worries About ICE

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of Americans are worried, including 50% who are extremely worried, about ICE agents acting violently towards people because agents lack training. Among those most concerned by this are independents (71% worried, 50% extremely worried), non-MAGA Republicans (51% worried, 30% extremely worried), and Black Americans (85% worried, 66% extremely worried).

Other top-testing concerns are ICE targeting people for their appearance (62% worried, 48% extremely worried) and ICE detaining children and separating families (63% worried, 47% extremely worried). General concerns regarding ICE targeting citizens and lawful residents (60% worried, 46% extremely worried) were just as concerning as concerns regarding ICE targeting residents in “your community” (58% worried, 44% extremely worried).

Highlighting ICE’s Actions

A majority of Americans are concerned by ICE’s actions. Messages that Americans find concerning include:

• ICE should be going after violent criminals, but instead is being far too aggressive and broad in its approach.
• We are spending billions of dollars on ICE to terrorize our communities while cutting billions from things that help Americans get by, like health care and food assistance in Medicaid and SNAP.
• ICE is acting like a secret police force in a dictatorship that is completely loyal to Trump: masked agents are terrorizing communities and killing citizens.
• ICE is tearing families apart, detaining and zip-tying children and separating U.S. citizen children from their families.
• ICE is supposed to be making our communities safer, but they’re making us less safe.