Two new polls suggest Americans broadly support the Trump administration’s deportation agenda — even as “ICE Out” slogans dominate pop-culture moments — though support softens when deportations are perceived as indiscriminate.
A late-January survey by Cygnal shows majority backing for deportations and warns that Democratic calls to defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement are politically toxic.
“Voters see illegal immigration as a simple question of law and order,” said Cygnal founder and CEO Brent Buchanan. “The data leaves no wiggle room. Americans want the law enforced, they want illegal immigrants removed, and they punish politicians who try to block ICE from doing its job.”
The Cygnal poll, conducted Jan. 27–28 among 1,004 likely 2026 midterm voters (±3.09%), found 61% support deportations, compared with 34% opposed. Seventy-three percent agree that entering the U.S. without permission violates the law, while 54% support ICE enforcing federal immigration laws and conducting deportations.
The American people back President Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.
ENFORCE THE LAW. PROTECT AMERICA 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/T4L7no5HWF
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 3, 2026
The survey also suggests electoral risk for Democrats: when voters are told Democrats want to defund ICE or partially shut down the government over deportations, the generic ballot swings four points toward Republicans.
A separate Harvard-Harris Poll released Monday paints a more conditional picture. Conducted Jan. 28–29 among 2,000 registered voters (±1.99%), it shows Americans back deportations when targeted at illegal immigrants who have committed serious crimes — but recoil from perceived dragnet tactics.
In that poll, “deporting immigrants who are here illegally and have committed crimes” ranks as President Donald Trump’s second-most popular policy, with 73% support. If ICE is seen as sweeping up illegal immigrants “randomly,” support drops to 44%.
Americans also appear resistant to efforts to block enforcement. Two-thirds say state and local officials should cooperate with immigration authorities to deport criminal illegal aliens, and the same share say local jails should turn over criminal aliens for deportation.
More over at The Daily Wire:
Polls Deliver Clear Verdict: Americans Back Trump’s Deportation Agenda, Reject Anti-ICE Politicshttps://t.co/gYNGgE0NrH
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) February 3, 2026