Lead: A CNN poll conducted 9–12 January finds 51% of U.S. adults say Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement makes American cities less safe, while 31% say ICE makes them safer. The survey also reports 56% view the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE-related agent in Minneapolis last week as an inappropriate use of force; just 26% called it appropriate. The poll shows growing public concern about deportation policy, with 52% saying Donald Trump’s deportation efforts have gone too far, up from 45% last February.
Key takeaways
- 51% of respondents said ICE enforcement actions make cities less safe; 31% said enforcement makes cities more secure (CNN poll, 9–12 Jan 2026).
- 56% judged the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis last week an inappropriate use of force, while 26% called it appropriate.
- About half of respondents linked Good’s killing to broader problems with ICE operations, according to the poll’s follow-up questions.
- 52% of Americans now say Trump’s deportation efforts have gone too far, an increase from 45% recorded in February 2025.
- The poll was fielded amid protests and federal deployments in Minnesota after the shooting and broader national debate over immigration enforcement tactics.
- Public opinion is shifting even as officials debate policy changes and law-enforcement accountability measures in several states.
Background
The CNN poll arrives after intensified national scrutiny of immigration enforcement following a fatal encounter in Minneapolis in early January 2026. That incident, involving an ICE-related law-enforcement presence and the death of Renee Good, triggered local protests in Hennepin County and renewed calls for federal and local reviews of tactics and oversight. ICE has been central to partisan debates over border security, interior enforcement and cooperation with local jurisdictions, including sanctuary-city disputes and federal deployments to cities for operations.
Discussions over ICE sit within a broader political landscape shaped by the Trump administration’s tougher immigration stance, proposals to expand deportations, and localized disputes over policing and federal intervention. Past episodes — including widely publicized detention and deportation operations and several high-profile use-of-force cases involving federal agents — have influenced public attitudes and made enforcement a recurrent flashpoint in national politics. Advocacy groups, mayors and members of Congress have pressed for greater transparency and accountability while others emphasize the agency’s role in public-safety priorities.
Main event
The CNN survey, completed 9–12 January, asked a representative sample of U.S. adults about ICE’s impact on public safety and specific recent incidents. It found a plurality perceives ICE activity as making cities less safe, a reversal from earlier years when enforcement steps sometimes polled more favorably. The poll’s timing coincides with public unrest in Minneapolis after the death of Renee Good and federal agents’ use of crowd-control measures during demonstrations on 13 January.
Respondents were also asked about the use of force in the Good case. A majority called the shooting inappropriate and roughly half linked the incident to systemic problems in ICE operations, indicating the event influenced broader perceptions of the agency. Local officials in Hennepin County have opened investigations, and Minneapolis-area demonstrations prompted federal and local officials to clarify rules of engagement and lines of authority between agencies.
Separately the poll measured views on the Trump administration’s deportation approach: 52% said deportation efforts have gone too far, up from 45% in a comparable question last February. That shift suggests growing public unease with aggressive removal policies even as political leaders debate tightening or expanding enforcement. The survey also captured other national concerns — from mental health funding disruptions to foreign-policy questions — which frame how voters evaluate public-safety institutions.
Analysis & implications
The poll’s results carry immediate political implications. If a majority of voters see ICE activity as undermining safety, local officials who host or resist federal operations may find public sentiment bolstering calls for restrictions, oversight or reallocation of enforcement responsibilities. That dynamic could shape municipal policies on cooperation with federal authorities and influence congressional debates over immigration funding and oversight.
For the Biden and Trump political coalitions, the data point to vulnerability on different fronts. Republicans who emphasize enforcement may face pushback from swing voters concerned about tactics and civilian harm; Democrats arguing for restraint can point to the poll to press for policy changes, greater accountability and alternatives to aggressive interior enforcement. Candidates and lawmakers are likely to cite these numbers in messaging ahead of 2026 campaign contests.
Operationally, ICE and Justice Department leaders may respond with public-affairs campaigns, internal reviews or tweaks to field guidance to address the perception problem. Law-enforcement trading partners — state and local agencies — may also reconsider formal cooperation agreements if local constituencies oppose federal deployments. Policy changes could include narrower criteria for deployments, enhanced transparency, or strengthened independent review of use-of-force incidents.
| Question | Survey result |
|---|---|
| ICE makes cities less safe | 51% |
| ICE makes cities more secure | 31% |
| Good shooting: appropriate use of force | 26% |
| Good shooting: inappropriate use of force | 56% |
| Trump deportations have gone too far | 52% (vs 45% in Feb 2025) |
The table highlights the poll’s headline figures and a recent shift on deportation policy. While polls are snapshots, the magnitude of opposition to ICE’s perceived effect on safety and the uptick in concern over deportations are notable and likely to influence policy discussions and media coverage in the coming weeks.
Reactions & quotes
Officials, advocates and the public offered swift responses to the poll and the Minneapolis shooting.
“The scope of care that’s disrupted by these grants is catastrophic. Tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of people will die.”
Ryan Hampton, Mobilize Recovery (advocacy)
Hampton’s comment referenced separate reporting of cancelled SAMHSA grants and was offered to underscore the broader policy fallout felt by some advocacy groups; his remark frames the consequences of federal grant decisions on treatment and recovery services.
“You don’t know what I’m going to do. Certainly I’m not going to give up options.”
Donald Trump (statement on Greenland and broader policy options)
President Trump’s remarks, made in a separate context about Greenland and strategic options, have been cited by critics and supporters as emblematic of an administration willing to keep a wide set of enforcement tools on the table; poll respondents’ views of deportation policy reflect part of that debate.
“Californians overwhelmingly voted in favor of Proposition 50. Today’s decision upholds the will of the people.”
Gavin Newsom, Governor of California (statement)
Governor Newsom’s statement addresses a different ballot and court matter noted in contemporaneous coverage; it illustrates how state-level legal and political moves on voting and redistricting are unfolding alongside federal enforcement controversies.
Unconfirmed
- The exact number of SAMHSA grantees cancelled was reported in some live coverage with an inconsistent figure; independent confirmation of the final count and total funding affected remains pending.
- Attribution of systemic failures to ICE based on a single high-profile case is debated; whether the Good shooting reflects agency-wide policy failures requires completed independent investigations.
- Reports about imminent military action related to Greenland or Iran continue to evolve; any operational plans cited by officials were described in varying terms and remain subject to formal confirmation.
Bottom line
The CNN poll shows a majority of Americans view ICE’s enforcement as reducing urban safety, a finding that could reshape local and national debates over immigration enforcement and accountability. The public reaction to the Renee Good shooting crystallizes concerns about tactics and oversight, and it is influencing perceptions of federal operations beyond the immediate incident.
Policymakers should expect intensified scrutiny: local leaders may press for limits on federal deployments or demand stricter oversight, and national politicians will likely use the poll to bolster their preferred policy narratives. Independent investigations, clearer rules of engagement and transparent reporting will be central to whether public confidence in enforcement agencies stabilizes or further erodes.