A new YouGov poll has found that 50% of Americans support abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, marking the first time support has reached this level. The figure represents a 5% increase from January, when support stood at 45%. Opposition to abolishing ICE has fallen to 39%, down from 45% in January.
The poll comes amid a partial government shutdown over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE. It follows a contentious appearance by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem before Congress, where she faced criticism for labelling two unarmed protesters killed by federal agents as “domestic terrorists”. Noem refused to retract the claim despite a lack of evidence.
The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota during anti-immigration enforcement protests in January have fuelled opposition to ICE. A separate NBC poll last month showed 49% disapproval of President Donald Trump’s handling of border security and immigration.
Among Democrats, 77% support abolishing ICE, while 52% of independents agree. Even among Republicans, support for abolition has risen to 23%, a high point according to YouGov, although 68% still oppose it. The poll surveyed 1,500 US adults between 7 and 11 February.
