Lead: A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll released after two fatal federal immigration-enforcement shootings in Minnesota finds 65% of Americans say Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has “gone too far” in enforcement. The results, collected in the wake of the deaths of U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Macklin Good, show rising skepticism about ICE and weakened support for President Donald Trump: his overall approval stands at 39% while 56% disapprove. The poll records an 11-point jump since last summer in the share saying ICE has overreached, driven mainly by independents and Democrats. Survey authors and analysts say the shifts are concentrated within parts of Trump’s 2024 winning coalition rather than his core base.
Key Takeaways
- 65% of respondents say ICE has “gone too far” in enforcing immigration laws, an 11-point increase since last summer.
- Trump’s overall approval rating is 39%; 56% disapprove and 51% strongly disapprove — the highest strong-disapproval share Marist has recorded since 2017.
- Independents and Democrats drove the rise in concerns about ICE; independent approval of Trump is just 30%.
- Latino respondents are markedly negative on ICE: 70% say the agency has gone too far and 61% disapprove of its job.
- Republicans remain supportive of ICE operations: roughly three-quarters approve of the agency’s job and 77% say ICE makes Americans safer.
- Following the Minnesota shootings, the Trump administration reassigned Greg Bovino and border czar Tom Homan said he would draw down about 700 federal agents in the state.
- Majorities favor prioritizing lower consumer prices over the administration’s recent foreign-policy and immigration actions.
Background
The poll follows two fatal encounters in Minnesota in which federal immigration agents shot and killed U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Macklin Good, triggering nationwide protests and political scrutiny of ICE operations. Those incidents prompted personnel changes in the Minnesota enforcement operation, including the reassignment of Greg Bovino and intervention by White House border czar Tom Homan, who said he was reducing the agent presence by roughly 700 people in the state. Public reaction to the shootings intersected with broader concerns about the intensity and methods of immigration enforcement, placing the agency at the center of a national debate.
Polling on immigration and ICE has historically split sharply by party, but pollsters say the most recent shift is notable for its movement among independents, Latinos and some younger voters — groups that helped secure Trump’s 2024 victory. Marist Institute director Lee Miringoff told pollsters the change is concentrated among elements of Trump’s wider electoral coalition rather than his solid base. At the same time, many voters continue to prioritize domestic economic questions, with large majorities saying the administration should focus on lowering prices.
Main Event
The NPR/PBS/Marist survey was conducted amid intense media coverage and mass demonstrations over ICE actions in Minnesota and elsewhere. The twin Minnesota shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Macklin Good — both U.S. citizens — intensified public scrutiny of enforcement tactics and follow-up supervision. Authorities reassigned the regional enforcement lead, Greg Bovino, and the White House dispatched Tom Homan to take operational control and reduce personnel in the state by about 700 agents, signaling a tactical response to public outcry.
President Trump, when asked about the situation in a television interview, acknowledged lessons learned and said a “softer touch” might be appropriate in some situations while still calling targets “criminals.” Poll data indicate that characterization did not align with public perception of the two victims and that voters broadly view ICE’s conduct unfavorably. Protesters drew public sympathy in the survey: 59% said the demonstrations were mostly legitimate rather than unlawful.
Party divisions remain stark. While Democrats and independents grew more critical of ICE and the president’s handling of issues, Republican respondents largely maintained strong approval for enforcement methods and the administration’s broader policy agenda. Republicans in the poll reported roughly 75% approval of ICE’s job and emphasized immigration as a higher priority in contrast to Democrats and independents, who placed lowering prices at the top of the policy agenda.
Analysis & Implications
The poll’s central implication is a widening gap between Trump’s core base and the broader electorate that propelled him to victory in 2024. Analysts note that losing relative support among independents, Latinos and younger voters can matter in competitive states even if his base remains intensely loyal. A 30% approval among independents and large disapproval shares on economic questions suggest vulnerability on issues that routinely drive turnout.
For ICE and the administration, the findings create a policy dilemma. High public concern about enforcement tactics increases political risk for aggressive field operations, especially when actions result in civilian deaths. The administration’s decision to reassign leadership in Minnesota and publicly reduce agent presence by 700 suggests an attempt to balance enforcement priorities with political damage control, but long-term operational changes are not yet confirmed.
Economics also shape political calculus. Voters in this poll consistently prioritized lowering consumer prices over foreign-policy initiatives such as Venezuela actions or talk of Greenland, signaling that immigration enforcement controversies may have limited staying power if inflation and household costs remain the dominant voter concern. If economic pressure persists, public attention could shift away from enforcement tactics; conversely, renewed incidents could entrench opposition.
Comparison & Data
| Measure | Overall | Republicans | Independents | Latinos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Say ICE has “gone too far” | 65% | (marginal increase) | (double-digit rise) | 70% |
| Approve of Trump’s job | 39% approve / 56% disapprove | ~85% approve | 30% approve | 38% approve |
| Think ICE makes Americans safer | ~40% disagree overall | 77% say it makes Americans safer | 56% say much less safe | (majority negative) |
| Priority: lowering prices | Majority overall | 44% of Republicans prioritize immigration | Majority prioritize lowering prices | Plurality prioritize lowering prices |
The table aggregates key percentages reported by NPR/PBS/Marist. Some subgroup cells summarize qualitative shifts reported by the poll when exact subgroup percentages were not provided in the public release. Numbers preserve all specific figures cited in the poll release; where the poll discussed a trend without a precise subgroup percentage, the table notes the direction of change.
Reactions & Quotes
“The thing in the numbers that we’ve been experiencing is the shift among some of the folks who voted for him — his voting coalition,”
Lee Miringoff, Marist Institute for Public Opinion
Marist’s director framed the poll as evidence that Trump’s broader electoral coalition — not his consolidated base — is shifting. Analysts say such shifts could matter in swing states and for turnout dynamics even if core supporters remain united.
“Maybe we can use a little bit of a softer touch. But you still have to be tough,”
President Donald Trump (interview comment)
The president’s brief remark, given in a network interview, signaled a rhetorical pivot after the Minnesota shootings but stopped short of a firm policy change. Administration moves — reassigning a regional lead and reducing agents in Minnesota by about 700 — followed public backlash and congressional inquiries.
Unconfirmed
- Whether internal Justice Department or DHS investigations will lead to sustained structural changes at ICE beyond the Minnesota reassignments remains unresolved.
- Full operational details and rationale for the reported drawdown of about 700 agents in Minnesota have not been publicly disclosed in complete operational orders.
- Long-term voter behavior implications are uncertain; whether the poll’s shifts will persist into future elections requires additional waves to confirm.
Bottom Line
The NPR/PBS/Marist poll shows broad public unease with ICE enforcement after two high-profile Minnesota shootings, with 65% of Americans saying the agency has gone too far and notable declines in support among independents, Latinos and younger voters. President Trump’s approval remains underwater at 39%, with very high strong-disapproval levels that Marist has not observed in its earlier tracking of presidential approval intensity.
For policymakers, the results create competing pressures: retain aggressive immigration enforcement to satisfy a loyal base or scale back tactics to address broader public concerns and potential political fallout. How the administration responds operationally and rhetorically in the coming weeks — and whether economic concerns like inflation regain public primacy — will shape whether these polling shifts are transient or consequential.
Sources
- NPR (news outlet reporting on the NPR/PBS News/Marist poll)
- Marist Institute for Public Opinion (polling organization, poll sponsor/analyst)