Support for Donald Trump’s immigration policies has dropped sharply following public outrage over violent incidents involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis, according to a new NBC poll. Nearly half (49%) of American adults now strongly disapprove of the administration’s handling of border security and immigration, up from 34% in April and 38% last summer.
The poll links the rising disapproval to the shooting deaths of two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal agents in Minneapolis. Senior officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, labelled both as “domestic terrorists” after their deaths. About 60% of respondents in the week after Pretti’s death disapproved of Trump’s immigration policies.
The survey of nearly 22,000 adults also revealed deep hostility towards ICE, with nearly three-quarters wanting the agency reformed or abolished. A majority (63%) said agents had gone too far, and 62% expressed distrust in federal investigations into the deaths. Additionally, 63% believed the federal government had acted excessively in overriding local authorities.
The findings highlight a growing split within the Republican Party: 59% of traditional Republicans supported investigating the agents who killed Pretti, compared to only 38% of Trump-aligned Republicans. Meanwhile, administration officials continue to defend ICE. Acting head Todd Lyons told a House committee on Tuesday, “We are only getting started,” rejecting comparisons to the Gestapo.
At least two dozen ICE agents have been charged with crimes since 2020, including physical and sexual abuse, amid concerns over rapid expansion following a $75bn budget boost for the Department of Homeland Security.
