Public Opinion Shifts Against ICE and DHS Amid Recent Events

Recent polling has revealed a significant decline in public support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the fatal shooting of Veterans Administration nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis. This incident has sparked calls from the majority of voters for the removal of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Furthermore, nearly half of those surveyed reported knowing someone living in fear due to the deportation policies of the Trump administration.

A video released by Reuters shows a law enforcement officer restraining Alex Pretti before he was shot during an attempted detention by federal agents on January 24, 2026. The event has heightened criticism of ICE’s enforcement methods.

Decline in ICE Approval Ratings

A Quinnipiac poll published recently highlights that 63% of voters disapprove of ICE’s methods in enforcing immigration laws, compared to 34% who approve. This demonstrates a decline from January figures, where 57% disapproved but 40% approved.

Similarly, an Ipsos poll indicates that 62% of Americans believe ICE officers’ actions are excessive. This marks a slight increase from 58% in a prior Reuters/Ipsos poll. Notably, Republican respondents indicating that ICE’s conduct has gone too far rose by 10 points, reaching 30%.

Calls for Accountability

The Quinnipiac poll also suggests that 58% of participants believe that Secretary Kristi Noem should step down. Additionally, 60% think ICE should pull out of Minneapolis. These surveys were carried out before the border czar Tom Homan announced a reduction of 700 federal agents in Minnesota.

Furthermore, 47% of the population reported being familiar with someone feeling threatened due to President Trump’s deportation strategies.

Reactions to Alex Pretti’s Shooting

The Quinnipiac poll unveiled that 62% of voters consider the shooting of Pretti as unjustified, while 61% believe the Trump administration has not been transparent about the incident. Initial accusations of domestic terrorism against Pretti by Noem and the White House deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, were made without evidence, distancing President Trump from these claims. He later stated his disapproval of Pretti’s possession of firearms but did not echo the terrorist allegations.

An Ipsos poll found 55% of Americans believe Pretti’s death involved excessive force, with varied responses across political lines.

Need for Independent Investigations

The Quinnipiac poll indicates a strong demand for an independent probe into the incident, supported by a majority across political affiliations.

Pretti’s death followed the earlier fatal shooting of Renee Good by a federal officer, compounding public concern about ICE’s methods.

Approximately 59% of voters associate recent ICE-involved shootings with broader operational issues within the agency, while 32% think they are isolated events. Overwhelmingly, voters support requiring body cameras for ICE agents, and a significant portion oppose allowing agents to wear masks.

Assessment of Trump’s Immigration Policies

The Quinnipiac poll reveals that 59% of participants disapprove of President Trump’s handling of immigration, down from 44% approval in December.

The Trump administration’s motives in deploying ICE agents in Minneapolis were seen as politically driven rather than for law enforcement by 56% of respondents.

Six in ten voters argue the administration’s treatment of undocumented immigrants is overly harsh, with only a minority believing it is appropriate.

Additionally, 51% feel that the administration’s approach has compromised national safety, while 35% think it has enhanced security.

Favoring legal pathways over deportation, 59% advocate providing undocumented immigrants with an avenue to legal status, in contrast to 34% who support deportation.

The Quinnipiac poll collected responses from 1,191 registered voters nationwide between January 29 and February 2, with a margin of error of ±3.6 percentage points. The Ipsos poll was conducted with 1,020 U.S. adults from January 30 to February 1, with a margin of error of ±3.7 percentage points.