It is a weird time to be watching the news. Honestly, if you’ve scrolled through social media lately, you’ve probably seen the videos from Minneapolis or the reports of workplace raids. It feels like the country is reaching a breaking point on how we handle the border and the people already living here.
While the 2024 election was largely a mandate to "fix the border," the reality of that fix is hitting home in 2026. Recent polling suggests a massive shift. People are starting to realize that "securing the border" and "militarized mass deportation" look very different in practice than they did on a campaign poster.
Basically, Americans disapprove of Trump’s immigration policies at a rate we haven't seen since the first term. A new CBS News/YouGov poll released on January 18, 2026, shows that approval of the administration’s handling of immigration has ticked down to its lowest point of the second term.
The Minneapolis Effect and the ICE Backlash
Public sentiment isn't just about numbers; it's about events. The fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother in Minneapolis, by an ICE agent has become a lightning rod. It’s the kind of story that stops people in their tracks.
According to a Quinnipiac University poll from January 13, 2026, a staggering 57% of voters now disapprove of how ICE is enforcing immigration laws. When you dig into those numbers, the partisan divide is still there, but it’s cracking. Independents are moving away from the "iron fist" approach. About 64% of independents now say they disapprove of current enforcement tactics.
People are seeing masked, plainclothes agents in their neighborhoods. They are seeing raids at local businesses. It’s making communities feel less safe, not more. In fact, a slight majority of Americans in the latest CBS poll believe ICE operations are actually making their local areas less secure.
Why the Disapproval is Growing
It’s easy to say "deport them all" until it’s your neighbor or the person who runs the local deli.
✨ Don't miss: Kaitlin Marie Armstrong: Why That 2022 Search Trend Still Haunts the News
There’s a fundamental mismatch between what people wanted—control—and what they are getting—chaos. Here’s a breakdown of where the public is actually landing on specific policies based on recent Pew Research and PRRI data:
- Asylum Bans: Roughly 60% of the public is against the near-total suspension of asylum applications.
- Workplace Raids: 54% disapprove of the surge in ICE raids on businesses, mostly because of the economic ripple effects.
- The "Careless" Factor: About half of Americans now describe the administration’s approach to deportation as "too careless."
The data from the American Immigration Council is even more jarring. Arrests of people with no criminal record surged by over 2,400% in the last year. In January 2025, only 6% of those detained had no criminal history. By December, that number hit 41%.
When you start picking up parents at school bus stops or people at church, you lose the "law and order" argument with a lot of moderate voters.
The Economic Reality Check
Money talks.
Americans are starting to connect the dots between mass deportations and their own bank accounts. Pew Research found that 42% of adults expect these policies to lead to higher food prices.
They aren't wrong.
🔗 Read more: Jersey City Shooting Today: What Really Happened on the Ground
In border states, approval for Trump's immigration agenda dropped from 42% to 33% in just a few months. Why? Because these are the places where the labor shortages hit first. When the workforce disappears overnight, the cost of construction, farming, and hospitality goes up.
It’s one thing to want a wall; it’s another to pay $12 for a head of lettuce.
The Partisan Gap and the 2026 Midterms
The 2026 midterms are looming, and immigration is no longer the "slam dunk" issue for Republicans it once was.
While 78% of Republicans still back the President's overall approach, the "MAGA" core and "non-MAGA" Republicans are starting to drift apart on the specifics. For example, non-MAGA Republicans are much less likely to justify the use of force in domestic operations.
Meanwhile, the Democratic base is more energized than ever. 86% of Democrats say the administration is doing "too much." Even more interesting is the shift among Hispanic voters. Approval for Trump's immigration handling among Hispanic adults is sitting at about 21%, significantly lower than his national average.
What People Actually Want
If Americans disapprove of the current path, what do they want instead?
💡 You might also like: Jeff Pike Bandidos MC: What Really Happened to the Texas Biker Boss
Surprisingly, the "pathway to citizenship" isn't a dead idea. Far from it.
PRRI data shows that 60% of Americans still support a way for undocumented immigrants to become citizens if they meet certain requirements. Even among Republicans, support for a pathway to citizenship has actually increased slightly to 40%.
People want a border that works, but they don't want a police state. They want rules, but they also want some level of compassion for people who have been here for decades, paying taxes and raising families.
Moving Forward: Actionable Steps
If you are concerned about the current direction of immigration policy, there are a few things you can actually do besides just looking at polls:
- Support Local Ordinances: Many cities are currently debating "cooperation agreements" with federal agents. Showing up to city council meetings to voice your stance—whether for or against—is where local impact happens.
- Monitor the Economic Impact: Keep an eye on local labor markets. If you're a business owner, documenting how enforcement affects your ability to operate provides "real-world" data that policymakers need.
- Engage with Reputable Data: Don't just follow "rage-bait" on social media. Follow the data from non-partisan groups like Pew Research or the American Immigration Council to see the actual numbers behind the headlines.
- Contact Your Representatives: With the 2026 midterms approaching, members of Congress are hyper-sensitive to voter sentiment. If you think the current enforcement is "too careless" or "not enough," tell them.
The next few months will be telling. As the administration tries to expand detention centers—with some reports suggesting they want to triple the system's size—the public's patience is clearly wearing thin. The "iron fist" might have won an election, but it’s struggling to keep the heart of the country.