Half of Americans Back Abolishing ICE Amid Trump Crackdown, Poll Finds
A new YouGov poll has revealed that exactly half of Americans support the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, marking a significant rise in opposition to Donald Trump's aggressive federal immigration crackdown. The analysis shows that 50% of respondents "strongly or somewhat" want to see the agency dismantled, a 5% increase from a January poll conducted after the deaths of US citizen protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota.
Only 39% of those surveyed opposed abolishing ICE, a notable drop from January when support and opposition were evenly split at 45%. This latest poll is the first time that the number of Americans calling for scrapping the agency, a frequent demand of left-wing Democrats, has reached the 50% threshold, according to YouGov. The findings mirror an NBC poll from last month, which showed 49% disapproval of Trump's handling of border security and immigration, traditionally a key issue for his Republican base.
Government Shutdown and Political Fallout
The poll results come amid an ongoing partial government shutdown over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which is responsible for implementing the Trump administration's often controversial detention and deportation policies. This political turmoil follows a contentious appearance before Congress by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday, where she faced criticism from representatives on both sides of the House.
Noem was challenged on her handling of immigration matters and the fatal shootings of protesters Good and Pretti during anti-immigration enforcement protests in Minneapolis. Good was shot by an ICE agent on 7 January, and Pretti was killed 17 days later by officers from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Despite pressure, Noem refused to retract her statements labeling the two unarmed protesters as "domestic terrorists," without presenting evidence to support the claim.
In response to demands from Democratic Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, the ranking member of the judiciary committee, to withdraw the terrorism allegation, Noem stated, "When we have these situations happen, we always offer our condolences to those families, and I offer mine as well." Durbin pointed out that ICE and CBP officials testified last month that they did not provide information to Noem indicating Pretti was a domestic terrorist, but she maintained her position, citing reports from agents at the scene.
Scrutiny and Ongoing Operations
Noem's performance is reportedly under scrutiny by Trump, who has occasionally softened his administration's hardline stance on immigration in an effort to regain public support ahead of the November midterm elections. Last month, Tom Homan, Trump's so-called border czar, announced that controversial immigration operations in Minnesota, involving thousands of federal officers, would "conclude." Homan was sent to Minneapolis to ease tensions following the removal of senior border patrol official Gregory Bovino, the public face of "Operation Metro Surge."
Bovino, often photographed directing agents in a German military-style overcoat, is now the subject of a state investigation for misconduct by federal officers during the operation and a separate Department of Homeland Security inquiry into alleged disparaging remarks about Daniel Rosen, the Jewish US attorney for the district of Minnesota. However, weeks after Homan's announcement, close to 650 federal agents remain in the state, as reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune on Wednesday.
Poll Breakdown and Public Sentiment
A detailed breakdown of the YouGov poll shows that 77% of Democrats and 52% of independents support abolishing ICE. Among Republicans, 68% continue to oppose abolition, but the number in favor has grown to 23%, described by YouGov as a "high point." This shift highlights the growing divide and evolving public opinion on immigration enforcement in the United States.
The protests in Roxbury, New Jersey, against converting a warehouse into an ICE detention center on 16 February 2026, underscore the ongoing grassroots opposition to these policies. As the debate intensifies, the poll results suggest that immigration remains a pivotal issue with significant implications for future political dynamics and policy decisions.
