American voters are increasingly critical of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with the majority now advocating for an end to ICE raids.
A recent poll conducted by JL Partners for the Daily Mail on Monday indicates that 53% of registered voters believe that raids conducted by ICE and Customs and Border Protection, along with their presence in U.S. cities, should cease.
Interestingly, nearly one-fifth, or 19%, of Republican voters also share this sentiment, though 71% of GOP voters still support the continuation of immigration raids.
The percentage of those who think ICE should be disbanded has risen to 47%, up from 43% in a similar poll conducted by the Daily Mail last Friday.
This perspective is held by 27% of Republicans, alongside 66% of Democrats and 46% of independents.
Recently, the death of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti, who was shot by several CBP agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, sparked widespread protests. In response, President Donald Trump called for a “very honorable and honest investigation” into the incident, following earlier comments from some of his deputies.
Trump’s approval ratings have been hurt by ICE, the CBP and their immigration enforcement actions, standing at 45 percent in Monday’s survey, a tie for the lowest in the Daily Mail’s tracking poll since he took office last January.
The actions of ICE and the broader immigration agenda are now the No. 1 driver of disapproval of Trump, with 28 percent of voters choosing that as their top option.
One of many protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement, this one during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Monday, on the heels of Alex Pretti’s death on Saturday. New polling shows dire numbers for ICE and the immigration agenda in its aftermath
That increased by 10 points from just Friday to Monday – before and after Pretti’s death.
The No. 2 issue Americans are displeased with Trump’s handling of was inflation, polling found, with 16 percent of voters who disapproved of the president listing that as their top issue.
Despite CBP agents being responsible for Pretti’s death, CBP is still viewed more favorably than ICE, which has gotten the bulk of attention as Trump carries out his promised mass deportation plan.
Thirty-five percent viewed CBP unfavorably, while 38 percent viewed CBP favorably.
That’s in comparison to 55 percent who view ICE unfavorably and 32 percent who hold a favorable view of the agency.
In November, Daily Mail polling found that 45 percent held an unfavorable view of ICE.
Now, even 23 percent of Republicans hold an unfavorable view of ICE.
A majority of respondents, 54 percent, characterized Pretti’s killing as unjustified and labeled it murder, versus 21 percent who said it was a justified law enforcement action.
Members of ICE detain a man in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 18. A majority of registered voters would now like to see ICE leave U.S. cities
Majorities of voters found Pretti’s killing to be a watershed moment for the country and for themselves personally.
Fifty-seven percent called it a turning point in how America will think about immigration enforcement actions by the Trump administration, including 47 percent of Republicans.
Another 53 percent said it was a turning point for them personally, with 39 percent of Republican voters saying it was a turning point for them.
The poll was conducted using 1,027 registered voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.
