New poll shows voters souring on Trump’s immigration crackdown — and most say ICE has “gone too far”

WASHINGTON — A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows President Donald Trump’s approval on immigration has dropped to its lowest level since he returned to office, with a majority of Americans saying Immigration and Customs Enforcement has gone too far in its crackdown.

The poll found 39% of respondents approve of Trump’s handling of immigration while 53% disapprove, Reuters reported. And when asked specifically about ICE’s enforcement actions, 58% said agents have gone “too far,” compared with 12% who said they have not gone far enough and 26% who said the effort is “about right.”

The results are landing in a heated moment, fueled by viral video and public backlash tied to confrontations in Minneapolis. Reuters reported the polling window captured responses before and after immigration officers killed a second U.S. citizen in Minneapolis during confrontations connected to protests over the administration’s deployment of immigration agents to cities. Reuters also reported the administration has blamed a nurse, Alex Pretti, for assaulting officers before he was shot, while videos recorded by bystanders appeared to conflict with the government’s account.

Those clips — and the broader tone of enforcement — appear to be reshaping how independents see the crackdown. Reuters reported that about nine in 10 Democrats said ICE has gone too far, compared with about two in 10 Republicans, and roughly six in 10 independents. That independent shift is politically important because it can determine midterm outcomes in closely divided states, and it’s also where “immigration” often moves from a partisan talking point to a day-to-day “is this safe and fair?” question.

The poll also shows broader political drag. Reuters reported Trump’s overall approval rating fell to 38%, tying the lowest level of his current term. Even so, Reuters noted voters still give Republicans a slight edge over Democrats on immigration policy, with 37% saying Republicans have the better approach compared with 32% who prefer Democrats.

Trump’s immigration messaging helped carry him in the 2024 election, built around a promise of a historic surge in deportations. Reuters reported immigration had initially been a brighter spot for his popularity after his January inauguration, but the poll now suggests the public is losing patience with how the crackdown is being carried out.

One reason the numbers matter is what they imply about the next phase: a policy can remain popular in theory while unpopular in practice. People can want stronger border control, faster removals, or tighter asylum rules, while also reacting negatively to enforcement images that look chaotic, overly aggressive, or error-prone — especially when U.S. citizens are caught up in the aftermath.

For the White House, the question is whether it recalibrates tactics, messaging, or both — and whether it can do so without undercutting the core promise that energized its supporters. For Democrats, the question is whether they can capitalize on the backlash without looking like they’re dismissing immigration concerns entirely. For voters, the poll is a snapshot of a growing tension: the country is split on immigration solutions, but a majority is signaling that this version of enforcement feels like it’s crossing a line.