ELIZABETH LAWRENCE: Americans Want Illegals Out, Say ICE Goes Too Far

After repeatedly vowing to launch “the largest deportation operation in American history,” President Donald Trump won 77 million votes and reclaimed the White House in 2024. His victory suggested the American people wanted him to remove the millions of illegal immigrants let in through President Joe Biden’s open border. And he began that task immediately – something one might call democracy in action.

Now, one year into Trump’s second term, most Americans still support mass deportations – but after a series of deadly shootings involving immigration authorities and left-wing activists, many are experiencing unease related to how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is getting the job done.

Deportations And Democracy

It’s not like the American people have changed their minds on deportations since Trump took office. A January 2026 New York Times/Siena national poll shows that registered voters still support the Trump administration’s deportation efforts by a 50-47 margin.

However, the same poll showed 61% of voters believe ICE has “gone too far” during deportation operations. After two deadly shootings between federal agents and anti-ICE demonstrators, it’s easy to see why this view has spread – both shootings are still under investigation, and while many observers insist the agents acted in self-defense, others claim abuse of police powers.

That unease has translated into falling approval numbers for President Trump. A recent Napolitan News Service survey conducted before the most recent shooting shows “the president’s approval on Immigration sits at 48%, one point from his lowest rating in September.”

The Easy Way Or The Hard Way

The Trump administration has offered illegal immigrants a peaceful and easy way out: self-deportation. Illegal immigrants can avoid ICE altogether by leaving the country voluntarily. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) even offers illegal immigrants “cost-free travel, forgiveness of any failure to depart fines, and a $2,600 exit bonus to facilitate travel back to their home country or another country where they have lawful status through the CBP Home Mobile App.”