SerpApi.Org
More people support getting rid of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement than keeping it following a string of fatal encounters between officers and the public, according to a new poll.
Forty-eight percent of U.S. adults surveyed between July 17 and July 20 somewhat or strongly supported "abolishing" ICE compared to 40% who somewhat or strongly opposed it, according to Economist/YouGov survey results released Tuesday. The remaining 12% were not sure.
An Economist/YouGov survey taken weeks after the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota revealed that 50% of people wanted to do away with ICE, while 39% were in favor of keeping the agency, an indication that the public is not as upset with ICE as it was five months ago.
Among the political parties surveyed this month, 73% of Democrats said they want to abolish ICE, while 67% of Republicans opposed doing so. Among respondents who identified as MAGA Republicans, 80% said ICE should not be terminated.
Surveyors believe the recent officer-involved fatal shootings in Maine and Texas "may have increased support for abolishing ICE," similar to results seen following Minnesota.
ICE received worse marks from the public in terms of confidence in the federal agency. Thirty-eight percent told surveyors they had a great deal or some confidence in ICE, compared with 53% who voiced only a little confidence or none at all.
Far more than half of respondents — 58% — said ICE has used too much force, and just 30% of people said ICE's use of force was necessary and justified.
President Donald Trump's handling of immigration has been significantly affected by the two recent shootings. The Trump administration has acquired tens of billions of dollars in congressional funding to carry out a mass deportation operation nationwide during his second term.
As that operation continues, he is losing public favor. Now, 54% somewhat or strongly disapprove of Trump's handling of immigration, while 39% approved, the same poll concluded.
ICE MELTING UNDER TRUMP'S EXPECTATIONS, OFFICERS SAY
Trump's approval rating on immigration is now the second-lowest across his two terms. His lowest approval on the issue was marked on Nov. 17, 2017.
The survey was conducted online among 1,602 U.S. adult citizens nationwide. It had a 3.3 percentage point margin of error.
