What do americans think of ICE
Executive summary
Americans’ views of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are sharply polarized but tilting negative: multiple polls in January 2026 show pluralities or majorities disapproving of ICE’s conduct and a surge in support for major reforms or even abolition (Quinnipiac; YouGov; Economist/YouGov) [1] [2] [3]. That backlash intensified after a widely viewed fatal shooting by an ICE agent in Minneapolis and amid aggressive enforcement tactics deployed in cities, which critics say have produced fear and human-rights complaints while supporters argue for stronger border control [4] [5] [6].
1. The numbers: disapproval and calls for abolition are rising
National polling conducted in January 2026 found substantial disapproval of ICE’s performance—Quinnipiac reported 57% of voters disapprove of how ICE enforces immigration laws and only 40% approve [1], YouGov and related trackers show majorities saying ICE uses too much force and rising support for abolishing the agency [2] [7], and an Economist/YouGov poll put support for abolition at 46% versus 43% opposed [3].
2. The catalyst: a viral shooting and optics of aggressive raids
Public sentiment hardened after the January 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis, with polls reporting majorities viewing the shooting as unjustified and a marker of broader problems at the agency; CNN and Quinnipiac found many Americans see the incident as evidence of ICE operating problematically in cities [4] [1]. Reporting and protests around the event, and video circulation, accelerated negative perceptions and support for protests against ICE [8] [2].
3. What people say they want: enforcement in the abstract, restraint in practice
Analysts summarize a recurring pattern: Americans endorse “strict immigration enforcement” in the abstract but recoil when enforcement translates into aggressive raids, family separations, or violence, a tension visible across YouGov and independent analyses that show many support law enforcement of immigration yet reject the tactics now associated with ICE [7] [9].
4. Partisan divide and demographic contours
Disapproval is not uniform: Republicans remain more likely to approve of ICE’s actions while Democrats and independents tilt strongly negative—Quinnipiac reported Republicans approve overwhelmingly whereas Democrats and independents largely disapprove [1]. Younger cohorts, notably Millennials, show higher appetite for abolition according to YouGov [2], signaling both partisan and generational fault lines in attitudes.
5. Critics’ case: human-rights abuses, fear, and “cruelty as policy”
Human-rights groups, civil liberties organizations, and critical opinion pieces frame ICE as a brutal, paramilitary force whose tactics—mass detentions, tent facilities, allegations of abuse, and threats—constitute systemic cruelty; investigations and letters from groups describe crowded tented facilities and allegations of coercion and abuse [5]. Commentators and community reports describe a climate of fear that reshapes daily life for immigrant communities [10].
6. Defenders’ case and policy trade-offs
Defenders—administration officials and pro-enforcement advocates—argue robust interior enforcement is necessary to control illegal migration and public safety, and the administration has prioritized expanding detention and personnel funding [6] [3]. Think tanks like Brookings stress that the debate is not simply compassion versus control and call for paired reforms: lawful pathways plus credible enforcement [11].
7. Where public opinion may move next and why it matters
Public opinion is fluid: dramatic enforcement actions, high-profile incidents, and media coverage can push approval down quickly—as polls between 2024 and early 2026 show—and legislative choices (funding for detention, reform proposals) will both reflect and reshape sentiment; analysts warn that a deterrence-only approach carries political and social costs, while opponents of reform push back on dismantling enforcement entirely [12] [11].