Senior advisers to President Donald Trump are reportedly exploring ways to adjust the administration's aggressive immigration enforcement strategy after a significant public backlash, according to a new report.
Polling Reveals Erosion of Crucial Voter Support
Private Republican polling, reviewed by the Trump team, has indicated a marked decline in approval for the president's immigration agenda. The data, reported by Axios on Friday 16 January 2026, shows that independent, moderate, and minority voters – a key coalition that helped secure Trump's 2024 election victory – are increasingly distancing themselves from the president on this issue.
This voter bloc is seen as vital for maintaining Republican majorities in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. An unnamed senior Trump adviser told Axios that, in response, there have been quiet discussions about "recalibrating" the administration's approach to enforcement.
"[Trump] wants deportations. He wants mass deportations. What he doesn't want is what people are seeing. He doesn't like the way it looks," the adviser stated, highlighting a tension between the policy's goals and its public perception.
Public Backlash and Policy Impact
Over the past year, widespread media coverage has documented the human impact of the administration's policies. Stories have included the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, sick children being removed from the US, and the fatal shooting of Renee Good during an enforcement operation.
This constant stream of negative stories appears to have shifted public opinion. A recent AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found only 38 percent of people support Trump's immigration agenda, with half of respondents saying the president has "gone too far" on deportations.
Even within the Republican base, support is softening. October polling from Pew Research Center indicated a nine-point rise in Republicans who believe Trump is doing "too much" on immigration.
The Gap Between Rhetoric and Reality
Despite the administration's consistent framing of its operations as targeting the "worst of the worst," independent analyses tell a different story. Data reviewed by Trace Reports, the New York Times, and the CATO Institute found that the vast majority of individuals arrested or deported by ICE have no criminal convictions.
Nevertheless, the White House has continued its robust enforcement campaign, deploying thousands of federal officers to cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Memphis, and Minneapolis. This heavy presence has sparked protests, some turning violent, leading to injuries, deaths, and significant urban disruption.
Democratic leaders have demanded the withdrawal of federal forces, arguing they create an unsafe environment. The administration has retaliated by accusing Democrats of inciting violence, deploying the National Guard, and even threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the president's stance, telling Axios, "President Trump continues to be viewed as a strong leader who keeps the American people safe... his law and order agenda and handling of immigration/border security remains among his best polling issues with voters."
However, with polling suggesting otherwise and key electoral support at risk, it remains unclear whether President Trump will accept any alternative strategies proposed by his team, even as they discuss a potential recalibration of one of his signature policies.
