A new national survey suggests frustration with federal immigration enforcement is growing, with a majority of voters saying they disapprove of the work being done by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The findings come from a Fox News poll conducted before President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he intends to nominate Markwayne Mullin to replace Kristi Noem as the head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
According to the poll, nearly six in ten voters disapprove of ICE’s performance, while about four in ten say they approve.
The level of disapproval represents the highest recorded in the survey, climbing seven points since last fall and 17 points since the question was first asked in 2018.
The poll also shows that strong disapproval outweighs strong approval by nearly a two-to-one margin.
Younger voters appear to be driving much of the change. Disapproval among those under age 30 rose by 17 points compared with September. Independents also showed a sharp shift, with disapproval increasing by 13 points, while men rose by 11 points and Democrats by eight.
Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News Poll alongside Democratic pollster Chris Anderson, said recent events may have influenced the results.
“This isn’t a complicated story,” Shaw said. “ICE’s tactics in Minneapolis, along with negative news coverage, have caused a sharp drop in approval, especially among independents and members of the out-party.”
Despite the broader disapproval numbers, support for ICE remains extremely high among certain groups.Â
The survey shows 94% of MAGA supporters approve of the agency’s work, along with 87% of very conservative voters and 83% of Republicans.
When voters were asked about the agency’s funding, nearly half — 46% — said Congress should reduce it. Others favored different approaches: 20% want to increase funding, 18% prefer keeping it at current levels, and 16% support maintaining funding but adding new restrictions.
Partisan divides are clear. Among Democrats, 77% want ICE funding reduced, while 59% of independents share that view. Republicans, on the other hand, largely prefer maintaining or increasing funding, with 37% supporting current levels and 43% favoring an increase.
The poll also examined opinions on immigration policy more broadly under the Trump administration.
Voters are slightly more likely to say the policies have made the United States safer, with 42% saying they have improved safety compared to 37% who believe the country is less safe. When the question was asked last June, voters were evenly split at 39% each.
Still, views are more negative when voters consider the economy. Nearly half — 49% — say the administration’s immigration policies are hurting the economy, while 33% say they are helping. Another 17% say the policies have had no economic impact.
Republicans overwhelmingly believe the policies have made the country safer, with 82% expressing that view, and 66% saying they have helped the economy. Democrats largely disagree, with 62% saying the policies have made the country less safe and 83% saying they have hurt the economy.
Independents are more mixed. A majority, 57%, believe the policies are harming the economy, while opinions on safety are divided: 27% say safer, 40% say less safe and 33% say there is no difference.
The survey also shows voters holding nuanced views on immigration enforcement.
Two-thirds of respondents favor allowing immigrants in the country illegally who hold jobs to remain and apply for legal status, with 67% supporting that approach and 33% opposing it. At the same time, 59% favor deporting immigrants who are in the country illegally back to their home countries, while 40% oppose deportations.
Among voters who support deportations, just over half — 53% — still say immigrants living in the country illegally but holding jobs should be allowed to stay and apply for legal status.
Hispanic voters show a different pattern. Nearly three-quarters, 74%, favor allowing immigrants with jobs to remain and pursue legal status, while 56% oppose deportations and 58% disapprove of ICE.
