Polls Deliver Clear Verdict: Americans Back Trump’s Deportation Agenda, Reject Anti-ICE Politics

Two new national polls released this week show clear majority support for President Donald Trump’s deportation agenda, even as progressive activists and celebrities attempt to rally opposition under slogans like “ICE Out.” The data suggests Americans are solidly behind law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), especially when deportation efforts focus on criminal illegal aliens.

The conservative polling firm Cygnal released numbers Monday from a late January survey of likely 2026 voters. Their findings are striking: 61% of Americans support deporting illegal aliens, while only 34% oppose. When told Democrats are pushing to defund ICE or shut down the government over immigration enforcement, support for Republicans on the generic congressional ballot jumps by four points.

“Voters see illegal immigration as a simple question of law and order,” said Cygnal 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 same Cygnal poll found that 73% of voters agree that entering the U.S. without authorization is a violation of the law, and 54% support ICE carrying out its enforcement mission, including deportations. In political terms, the results indicate that Democrats risk alienating swing voters by opposing deportations or by defending sanctuary policies.

Meanwhile, a separate poll conducted by Harvard-Harris between January 28–29 shows 73% support for deporting illegal aliens who have committed significant crimes, making it one of Trump’s most popular policy positions. However, support for broader deportation operations falls if voters believe ICE is targeting non-criminal aliens at random.

The Harvard-Harris poll also found that two-thirds of Americans believe local officials should cooperate with federal immigration authorities, and that jails should hand over criminal aliens to ICE. Fifty-eight percent also said that visa overstays should lead to deportation.

When it comes to green card holders or legal residents who commit serious crimes, 63% of voters say they should be removed from the country. However, support is far weaker for deporting those who have lived in the U.S. for years without committing crimes, or so-called “Dreamers” who arrived as minors.

The findings come as left-wing resistance to ICE continues to mount, including high-profile protests at cultural events like the Grammys. But the polling shows these efforts are out of step with most voters, including independents.

At the same time, the Trump administration has moved aggressively to use ICE in restoring public order following last year’s riots and violence tied to anti-ICE activism. Over 9,000 arrests have been made in sanctuary jurisdictions since the beginning of 2026.

Despite progressive efforts to frame immigration enforcement as cruel or racist, the American public is clearly signaling otherwise. Enforcement of existing laws remains a winning issue for President Trump — and a growing liability for Democrats who refuse to cooperate.