A dramatic shift in public opinion is underway in the United States, as a new poll reveals a steep decline in support for President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration raids conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Plummeting Poll Numbers
The turning tide is starkly illustrated by a recent Daily Mail/JL Partners poll, which found that ICE now holds a dismal 34 percent approval rating among the American public. This figure represents a significant four percentage point drop since the previous month, signalling a rapid erosion of support for the administration's hardline immigration tactics.
This public disillusionment marks a notable reversal from the sentiment captured in an August 2024 Pew Research Center survey. At that time, 56 percent of registered voters stated they strongly or somewhat favoured the mass deportations that were a cornerstone of Trump's campaign promise to lead the largest deportation operation in American history.
Chaotic Scenes and National Outrage
Over the past ten months, the reality of this deportation drive has unfolded in a series of chaotic and highly publicised raids across major American cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
One incident that captured national attention involved a daycare worker being forcibly removed from the Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Learning Center in Chicago. Local Alderman Matt Martin reported that federal agents, who were armed, entered the building without an invitation or a warrant, causing alarm as they operated in a space filled with young children.
There has also been a concerning trend of federal agents detaining immigrants immediately after they leave court hearings. A viral video from September showed masked agents throwing several reporters to the ground inside an immigration courthouse in New York City.
Individual Cases Fuel Public Discontent
The poll's findings are contextualised by several high-profile cases that have drawn widespread criticism. These include the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student held at an ICE centre for over three months for advocating against Israel’s war in Gaza.
In another case, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident, was mistakenly deported to his native El Salvador in March. Although he was brought back to the U.S. in June, he was subsequently placed in a detention centre, with the Trump administration threatening to deport him to several other countries.
The political fallout is significant. The Daily Mail's poll further indicates that for 41 percent of the 55 percent of respondents who disapprove of Trump's presidency, immigration enforcement is one of their top three reasons for their negative assessment.
