Poll Reveals Double-Digit Drop in Approval (Image Credits: Upload.wikimedia.org)
A new national poll captured a stark erosion of public confidence in President Donald Trump’s signature immigration policies following deadly confrontations involving federal enforcement agents last month.
Poll Reveals Double-Digit Drop in Approval
The NBC News Decision Desk Poll, powered by SurveyMonkey, surveyed 21,995 adults online from January 27 to February 6, 2026. It carried a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points.[1][2]
Findings showed 49 percent of respondents strongly disapproved of Trump’s handling of border security and immigration. That figure marked an increase from 38 percent last summer and 34 percent in April.[1]
Overall, 60 percent disapproved of his approach on the issue, while 40 percent approved, including 27 percent who strongly approved and 13 percent who somewhat approved. Trump’s immigration rating now matched his overall job approval at 39 percent.[1]
Fatal Shootings Ignite National Backlash
Federal immigration agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during operations tied to Trump’s mass deportation push. Renee Nicole Good, 37, died on January 7 after an encounter with an ICE officer who claimed she tried to run him over.[3][1]
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, faced a similar fate on January 24 when two Customs and Border Protection agents opened fire during a struggle amid protests against enforcement actions. Bystander videos spread rapidly on social media, shaping public perceptions.[4][3]
These events unfolded under Operation Metro Surge, the largest immigration enforcement effort in Minneapolis. Officials placed the involved agents on administrative leave pending investigations.[3]
Sixty-two percent of poll respondents expressed distrust in federal probes of the incidents as fair and transparent. Fifty-eight percent rejected the notion that ordinary citizens had nothing to fear from immigration agents.[1]
Majority Backs Reforms to ICE Operations
Nearly three in four Americans supported changes to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Specifically, 43 percent favored reform, while 29 percent called for abolition; only 29 percent wanted it left unchanged.[2]
Sixty-six percent disapproved of ICE’s overall job performance. Sixty-three percent opposed agents wearing masks during enforcement, and 67 percent viewed tactics as having gone too far.[2]
- 87 percent opposed granting federal officers immunity for unlawful acts in immigration enforcement.
- 88 percent backed deporting immigrants in the country illegally with criminal records.
- 46 percent said local governments should cooperate with federal deportations in some cases; 34 percent in all cases; 20 percent never.
Partisan and Independent Shifts Reshape Landscape
Independents drove much of the change, with strong disapproval rising 11 points since August. Fractures appeared among Republicans, particularly between MAGA supporters and traditional conservatives on issues like mask use and investigation support.[1]
Marc Trussler, a senior elections analyst at NBC News Decision Desk, noted the significance. “In these elections that are won on the margins, particularly in the swing states, independents are a really critical group. To see them shift so heavily on one of the president’s key priorities is really telling.”[1]
| Group | Strongly Approve Masks | Confident in Probes |
|---|---|---|
| MAGA Republicans | 74% | 91% |
| Traditional Republicans | 46% | 73% |
Key Takeaways
- Trump’s immigration approval fell to 39 percent, aligning with overall rating.
- 60 percent seek ICE reform or abolition post-shootings.
- Social media videos fueled distrust in federal handling.
These developments challenged Trump’s core issue amid ongoing deportation efforts and funding debates. The poll underscored how recent chaos in Minnesota amplified broader concerns. What do you think about these shifting views? Tell us in the comments.
