Trump’s immigration approval plunges to record low, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

By Jason Lange

WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) – U.S. approval of U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration policy fell to its lowest level since returning to the White House in a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, with most Americans saying his crackdown on immigration has gone too far.

The survey, conducted nationwide from Friday to Sunday, gathered responses before and after immigration officials clashed with protesters over Trump’s deployment of immigration agents in cities across the US on Saturday, killing a second American citizen in Minneapolis.

Just 39% of Americans approve of Trump’s job on immigration, compared to 53% who disapprove, a poll showed earlier this month by 41 percent. Immigration has been a bright spot for Trump’s popularity since taking office in January. In February, 50% approved and 41% disapproved.

Trump won the 2024 presidential election after promising a historic increase in deportations. Masked immigration officers, often in tactical military-style gear, have become a common sight across the country and protests against the crackdown have erupted in several cities, including Minneapolis, where immigration agents have responded with deadly force.

Trump administration officials have accused Alex Pretty, a 37-year-old nurse of assaulting officers during a protest in Minneapolis, before an agent shot and killed her, though that account is contradicted by videos recorded by bystanders. A few weeks ago, another US citizen, 37-year-old Renee Good, was shot and killed by an immigration agent in Minneapolis during an immigration raid.

Most say ice goes too far

About 58% of poll respondents said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents went “too far” in their crackdowns, while 12% said they didn’t go far enough and 26% said the agents’ efforts were “just right.” Nine in 10 Democrats say agents have gone too far, compared with two in 10 Republicans and six in 10 independents.

Viral videos of the brawl have fueled unease among Republican lawmakers, many of whom are facing voter anger over increased prices ahead of November’s midterm elections when Congress and most state governors are in control.

A leading Republican candidate for Minnesota’s governor’s race, Chris Medell, dropped his bid Monday, saying the crackdown had gone too far and made the race unwinnable for Republicans.

Trump has blamed Democrats for the shooting deaths but appeared less confrontational Monday, saying he was “on the same wavelength” with Minnesota’s Democratic governor. Trump said he and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had a “very good call.”

Overall rating tie period low

The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Trump’s overall approval rating sinking to 38%, tied for the lowest level of his current term as it fell from 41% in the previous Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted on January 12-13.

While Trump’s approval ratings have fallen, he continues to perform far better on immigration than his predecessor in office, former Democratic President Joe Biden. Americans also continue to trust Trump’s Republican Party more on the issue, with 37% of respondents in the latest poll saying Republicans have a better view of immigration, compared to 32% who prefer Democrats. The rest said they were not sure or that neither party was good.

The latest survey, conducted online nationwide, collected responses from 1,139 US adults and had a margin of error of about 3 percentage points.

(Reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Scott Malone and Aurora Ellis)