Public support for President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration agenda has hit a historic low as the human and political costs of his second-term enforcement strategy become increasingly visible. According to a series of comprehensive polls released this week, nearly 60% of Americans now disapprove of the administration’s handling of immigration and border security, marking a dramatic reversal from the support seen during the 2024 campaign.
A new AP-NORC poll reveals that roughly 6 in 10 U.S. adults believe the President has “gone too far” by deploying masked federal agents into major American cities to conduct door-to-door enforcement. Disapproval is particularly sharp among political independents, whose support for Trump’s immigration stance has cratered from 37% last year to just 23% this month. The shift follows a month of turmoil, highlighted by the fatal shootings of two individuals, including a U.S. citizen, by federal agents during immigration operations in Minneapolis.
The backlash has extended to the administration’s core enforcement agency, with 60% of the public now viewing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unfavorably. National surveys by NBC News and Ipsos further indicate that while Americans initially favored stricter border controls, the reality of mass deportations, family separations, and the use of active-duty military on domestic soil has alienated large swaths of the electorate. Notably, two-thirds of Americans now favor offering legal status to long-term undocumented residents over the administration’s current policy of universal removal.
The erosion of support is most pronounced among younger voters. A recent Economist/YouGov poll shows that approval among Gen Z (voters aged 18-29) has dropped to a record low of 25%, with many citing the expansion of raids and the “Gestapo-style” tactics of federal agents as primary reasons for their opposition. These polling trends underscore a growing national fatigue with the administration’s aggressive tactics, suggesting that the President’s signature issue may be transforming into his most significant political liability heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
