 "Federal agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) walk north on North Clark Street in the River North neighborhood, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Chicago. (Photo: Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)")
A majority of Americans disapprove of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations linked to the Trump administration’s mass deportation drive, according to a YouGov survey released on Friday. The poll found that 53 percent of citizens somewhat or strongly disapprove of ICE, while 39 percent approve of how the agency is operating.
The administration has deployed immigration enforcement teams to Democratic-led cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. Raids have resulted in the detention of individuals suspected of being immigrants without authorization to live in the United States, and agents have begun targeting schools, churches, and workplaces.
Most respondents, 55 percent, said ICE sometimes or often arrests United States citizens and immigrants who are authorized to live in the country. Sixty-one percent said immigration authorities detain people who have not committed any immigration or customs violations.
Public split on concerns for personal safety
More than half of those surveyed, 52 per cent, said ICE’s tactics are too forceful. A further 26 percent said the agency’s approach is about right, while 11 percent felt it is not forceful enough.
The poll also showed that 46 percent of Americans are somewhat or very concerned that someone they know could be mistreated by ICE, compared with 47 percent who said they are not very or not at all concerned.
YouGov conducted the online survey from Oct. 8–12 with 1,065 United States adult citizens. The margin of error is four percentage points.
Hundreds of undocumented migrants have been arrested in Chicago amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. However, District Judge Jeffrey Cummings ordered the release of detainees who were not considered security risks while they await the outcome of their immigration proceedings.
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View AllTrump ordered hundreds of National Guard troops to the Democratic-run city to tackle crime and support immigration enforcement, but federal courts have blocked the deployment. Last month, the administration asked the Supreme Court to overturn the lower court rulings preventing the Guard from being sent in.