Trump Faces Immigration Backlash Following Controversial Incidents

As the year 2026 begins, public support for President Donald Trump’s immigration policies is rapidly declining, largely due to recent controversial actions by federal immigration agents. The NBC News Decision Desk Poll, conducted with SurveyMonkey, highlights a significant erosion in approval for Trump’s approach, particularly after federal immigration agents were involved in the fatal shootings of two Americans last month.

Previously, immigration and border security were seen as strong points for Trump, both during his re-election campaign in 2024 and in the initial phase of his current administration. However, the poll reveals that his approval ratings for these issues have now plummeted to align with his overall job performance ratings.

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The survey results show a notable shift, with 49% of adults expressing strong disapproval of Trump’s handling of immigration and border security, up considerably from 38% last summer and 34% in April. This change is largely driven by self-identified independents, among whom strong disapproval has increased by 11 percentage points since August.

After the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minnesota, 60% of respondents indicated they somewhat or strongly disapproved of Trump’s immigration policies. Meanwhile, only 40% expressed approval, with 27% strongly approving and 13% somewhat approving. Trump’s overall approval rating dipped slightly to 39%, mirroring his rating on immigration issues.

Marc Trussler, a senior elections analyst for NBC News’ Decision Desk, noted the significant influence of independents on electoral outcomes, especially in swing states, and remarked, “To see them shift so heavily on one of the president’s key priorities is really telling.”

The aftermath of Pretti and Good’s deaths has highlighted the limitations of Trump’s immigration narrative, focusing on the dangers of sanctuary policies. Despite the administration’s emphasis, nearly three-quarters of poll respondents favored significant reform or abolition of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, arguing that its actions have exceeded acceptable bounds.

Furthermore, 63% of those surveyed believe the federal government has overstepped in disregarding local and state governance, while only 37% believe the opposite. Similarly, a majority, 63%, disapprove of immigration officers wearing masks. The administration is also predominantly blamed for street clashes with protesters.

When it comes to federal cooperation, 46% of respondents advocate for selective collaboration between local governments and federal authorities regarding deportation, 34% support full cooperation, while 20% reject it entirely. This reflects a desire for balanced enforcement rather than blanket policies.

The poll was carried out online between January 27 and February 6, highlighting that public disapproval has grown significantly due to incidents in Minnesota. Trump responded by modifying leadership of immigration operations in Minneapolis, with the withdrawal of hundreds of agents announced by White House border czar Tom Homan.

Marc Trussler emphasized that earlier ICE and Border Patrol actions had less influence compared to the Minnesota events, highlighting videos on social media and national news as pivotal in shaping public opinion. A majority, 62%, doubt the integrity of federal investigations into the shooting deaths of Good and Pretti, citing exclusion of local authorities from inquiries and resignations of federal prosecutors.

Both the national sentiment and the NBC News Decision Desk Poll, which surveyed 21,995 adults, indicate a critical drop in approval for Trump’s approach to immigration. His overall job approval reached its lowest level in his second term, declining from 42% in December to the current 39%.

The dissatisfaction extends to ICE, which has a lower approval rating of 34%, with 65% of respondents feeling the country is on the wrong path. Trump’s immigration policies are causing divisions within the Republican base, particularly among MAGA supporters and traditional Republicans.

A significant 74% of MAGA Republicans approve of federal agents wearing masks, in contrast to 46% of traditional Republicans. Similarly, opinions diverge on the investigation into Pretti’s shooting and the transparency of probes into both shooting cases. The differences were also reflected in a Minnesota-specific survey conducted in conjunction with NBC affiliate KARE and the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Overall, the Decision Desk Poll, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points, underscores public discontentment, highlighting the impact of Minnesota’s tragic incidents.