The majority of voters view Immigration and Customs Enforcement with suspicion, according to a new poll.
A YouGov survey released over the weekend found that 53% of respondents somewhat or strongly disapprove of ICE, compared to 39% who approve of the way they are operating. Over half of respondents said ICE’s tactics are too forceful, compared to 26% who viewed tactics as “about right” and 11% of people who said that they are not forceful enough.
The results signal further difficulties for the Trump administration’s efforts to suppress crime in major U.S. cities by sending ICE and other federal agents into metropolitan hot spots to detain and deport illegal immigrants.
ICE has already attracted nationwide protests for carrying out deportation raids in areas like Los Angeles and Chicago.
ICE is expected to head to New Orleans as well, while Trump most recently authorized federal agents to head to Charlotte, where operations commenced on Saturday.
The Department of Homeland Security’s “Operation Charlotte’s Web” launched despite protests from Democrats in North Carolina’s biggest city, including Mayor Charlotte Li Vyles.
“We want people in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to know we stand with all residents who simply want to go about their lives,” Vi Lyles, Mecklenburg County Board Chairman Mark Jerrell, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board member Stephanie Sneed said in a joint statement.
“Each of our organizations has made commitments to the people we serve to protect their rights and dignity. We are committed to following the law and to protecting the rights of all people who call Charlotte and Mecklenburg County home. It is important for people to understand their rights,” the statement continued.
Mecklenburg County Republican Party Chairman Kyle Kirby praised the Trump administration for sending ICE into Charlotte, stating, “individuals who are in this country legally have nothing to fear.”
“Let us be clear: President Trump was given a mandate in the 2024 election to secure our borders,” Kirby said, criticizing North Carolina Democrats for abandoning “their duty to uphold law and order.”
DHS said it was carrying out the operation because North Carolina has not honoured the nearly 1,400 immigration detainers, meaning law enforcement released those illegal immigrants from local jails instead of notifying ICE to take them into federal custody.
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Before arriving in Charlotte, ICE officers had previously worked with Border Patrol to arrest 4,000 illegal immigrants in Chicago, according to DHS.
The YouGov survey on ICE was conducted from Oct. 8-12 with 1,065 U.S. adult citizens. The margin of error is plus or minus 4%.
