{"id":18002,"date":"2026-02-05T12:06:51","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T12:06:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/majority-americans-ice-too-far\/"},"modified":"2026-02-05T12:06:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T12:06:51","slug":"majority-americans-ice-too-far","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/majority-americans-ice-too-far\/","title":{"rendered":"Majority of Americans Say ICE Enforcement Has &#8216;Gone Too Far&#8217; in New Poll"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p><strong>Lead:<\/strong> 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 &#8220;gone too far&#8221; 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\u2019s 2024 winning coalition rather than his core base.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>65% of respondents say ICE has &#8220;gone too far&#8221; in enforcing immigration laws, an 11-point increase since last summer.<\/li>\n<li>Trump\u2019s overall approval rating is 39%; 56% disapprove and 51% strongly disapprove \u2014 the highest strong-disapproval share Marist has recorded since 2017.<\/li>\n<li>Independents and Democrats drove the rise in concerns about ICE; independent approval of Trump is just 30%.<\/li>\n<li>Latino respondents are markedly negative on ICE: 70% say the agency has gone too far and 61% disapprove of its job.<\/li>\n<li>Republicans remain supportive of ICE operations: roughly three-quarters approve of the agency\u2019s job and 77% say ICE makes Americans safer.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>Majorities favor prioritizing lower consumer prices over the administration\u2019s recent foreign-policy and immigration actions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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 \u2014 groups that helped secure Trump\u2019s 2024 victory. Marist Institute director Lee Miringoff told pollsters the change is concentrated among elements of Trump\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>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 \u2014 both U.S. citizens \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<p>President Trump, when asked about the situation in a television interview, acknowledged lessons learned and said a &#8220;softer touch&#8221; might be appropriate in some situations while still calling targets &#8220;criminals.&#8221; Poll data indicate that characterization did not align with public perception of the two victims and that voters broadly view ICE\u2019s conduct unfavorably. Protesters drew public sympathy in the survey: 59% said the demonstrations were mostly legitimate rather than unlawful.<\/p>\n<p>Party divisions remain stark. While Democrats and independents grew more critical of ICE and the president\u2019s handling of issues, Republican respondents largely maintained strong approval for enforcement methods and the administration\u2019s broader policy agenda. Republicans in the poll reported roughly 75% approval of ICE\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>The poll\u2019s central implication is a widening gap between Trump\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Measure<\/th>\n<th>Overall<\/th>\n<th>Republicans<\/th>\n<th>Independents<\/th>\n<th>Latinos<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Say ICE has &#8220;gone too far&#8221;<\/td>\n<td>65%<\/td>\n<td>(marginal increase)<\/td>\n<td>(double-digit rise)<\/td>\n<td>70%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Approve of Trump\u2019s job<\/td>\n<td>39% approve \/ 56% disapprove<\/td>\n<td>~85% approve<\/td>\n<td>30% approve<\/td>\n<td>38% approve<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Think ICE makes Americans safer<\/td>\n<td>~40% disagree overall<\/td>\n<td>77% say it makes Americans safer<\/td>\n<td>56% say much less safe<\/td>\n<td>(majority negative)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Priority: lowering prices<\/td>\n<td>Majority overall<\/td>\n<td>44% of Republicans prioritize immigration<\/td>\n<td>Majority prioritize lowering prices<\/td>\n<td>Plurality prioritize lowering prices<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;The thing in the numbers that we&#8217;ve been experiencing is the shift among some of the folks who voted for him \u2014 his voting coalition,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Lee Miringoff, Marist Institute for Public Opinion<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Marist\u2019s director framed the poll as evidence that Trump\u2019s broader electoral coalition \u2014 not his consolidated base \u2014 is shifting. Analysts say such shifts could matter in swing states and for turnout dynamics even if core supporters remain united.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Maybe we can use a little bit of a softer touch. But you still have to be tough,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>President Donald Trump (interview comment)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The president\u2019s 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 \u2014 reassigning a regional lead and reducing agents in Minnesota by about 700 \u2014 followed public backlash and congressional inquiries.<\/p>\n<h2>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: How national polls measure agency approval<\/summary>\n<p>National surveys ask respondents whether they approve of an agency\u2019s job or whether it has overstepped. Results depend on question wording, sample composition and timing. Polls often include demographic splits (party, age, race, region) to show subgroup differences. Single events (like high-profile shootings) can produce short-term swings; pollsters look for persistence across waves to judge lasting change. Margin of sampling error and weighting for demographics also affect reported percentages.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<\/h2>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Whether internal Justice Department or DHS investigations will lead to sustained structural changes at ICE beyond the Minnesota reassignments remains unresolved.<\/li>\n<li>Full operational details and rationale for the reported drawdown of about 700 agents in Minnesota have not been publicly disclosed in complete operational orders.<\/li>\n<li>Long-term voter behavior implications are uncertain; whether the poll\u2019s shifts will persist into future elections requires additional waves to confirm.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>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\u2019s approval remains underwater at 39%, with very high strong-disapproval levels that Marist has not observed in its earlier tracking of presidential approval intensity.<\/p>\n<p>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 \u2014 and whether economic concerns like inflation regain public primacy \u2014 will shape whether these polling shifts are transient or consequential.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/02\/05\/nx-s1-5699413\/poll-trump-ice-immigration-economy-approval\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NPR<\/a> (news outlet reporting on the NPR\/PBS News\/Marist poll)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/maristpoll.marist.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Marist Institute for Public Opinion<\/a> (polling organization, poll sponsor\/analyst)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 &#8220;gone too far&#8221; 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 &#8230; <a title=\"Majority of Americans Say ICE Enforcement Has &#8216;Gone Too Far&#8217; in New Poll\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/majority-americans-ice-too-far\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Majority of Americans Say ICE Enforcement Has &#8216;Gone Too Far&#8217; in New Poll\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17997,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Majority Say ICE Enforcement 'Gone Too Far' \u2014 NewsBrief","rank_math_description":"A new NPR\/PBS\/Marist poll finds 65% of Americans say ICE has 'gone too far' after two fatal Minnesota shootings; Trump\u2019s approval is 39% with 56% disapproving.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"ICE, immigration enforcement, poll, Trump approval, Marist","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18002","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18002","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18002"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18002\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}