In the wake of two fatal shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, public opinion in the United States has shifted dramatically against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, according to a wave of recent polls and widespread reporting from outlets including NBC News, USA Today, and Silver Bulletin. The incidents—specifically, the deaths of Renee Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24, both at the hands of federal agents—have ignited national outrage and driven a marked decline in the president’s approval ratings, particularly on the issue of immigration.
For years, Trump’s hardline stance on immigration had been a cornerstone of his political brand, drawing both fervent support and fierce criticism. But the events in Minneapolis appear to have tipped the scales for many Americans, including a significant number of independents, who now view the administration’s approach as excessively severe.
According to a comprehensive NBC News poll released on February 11, 2026, Trump’s approval rating on immigration has slipped to new lows. The survey, which canvassed nearly 22,000 U.S. adults between January 27 and February 6, found that 49% of respondents now strongly disapprove of Trump’s handling of border security and immigration—up from 38% in August 2025 and just 34% in April and June of that year. Meanwhile, those expressing strong approval of Trump’s immigration policies dropped to 27%, down from a range of 31% to 34% in previous 2025 polls. Overall, 60% of those surveyed said they somewhat or strongly disapprove of the president’s immigration policies, while 40% approve.
This erosion in support is especially pronounced among independents. As noted by USA Today, there has been an 11-point surge since August in independents who say they "strongly disapprove" of Trump’s immigration stance. Kornacki, a political analyst featured on NBC News, highlighted that a "large number" of independents are now voicing strong opposition to the administration’s agenda, a trend that could have significant ramifications as the 2026 election cycle heats up.
Trump’s overall job approval has also taken a hit. The same NBC News poll pegs his overall approval rating at just 39%, with 61% disapproving. These numbers are mirrored by the findings of Silver Bulletin, which show Trump’s net job-approval rating dropping from minus-12.2% on January 6 to minus-14.6% by the end of the month, and sitting at minus-14.4% as of February 11. The percentage of Americans strongly disapproving of Trump’s job performance has climbed to a second-term high of 46.2%, while strong approval has dipped to 24.1%, near a record low.
Drilling down into the specifics, Trump’s net job approval on immigration—once a relative strength—has deteriorated sharply. Silver Bulletin reports that his net approval on the issue was minus-3.8% as recently as December 10, 2025, but plummeted to minus-12.4% by January 26 and now stands at minus-11.1%. For comparison, his net approval on the economy is minus-16.7%, and on handling inflation, minus-25.2%, though both figures were even worse at the end of 2025.
Public sentiment about the tactics of immigration enforcement agencies is equally stark. The Economist/YouGov survey from February 2, 2026, found that 50% of Americans believe Trump’s approach to immigration is "too harsh," with only 8% calling it "too soft" and 36% saying it’s "about right." The polarization is intense: 54% of independents and 58% of Hispanics describe Trump’s approach as "too harsh." Even among Republicans, 35% oppose deportation of undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for years without committing crimes, and 63% of all Americans share that view.
Support for reforming federal immigration enforcement is broad and deep. The NBC News poll found that nearly three-quarters of Americans want Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) either reformed or abolished—43% favor reform, while 29% support outright abolition. Furthermore, 67% believe ICE and Border Patrol agents’ tactics have gone "too far." More than half of respondents, 58%, disagreed with the statement that regular, law-abiding citizens have "nothing to fear" from immigration agents, pointing to a widespread sense of unease about the agency’s reach and methods.
The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have become lightning rods for criticism. According to Silver Bulletin, 53% of Americans agree that "Alex Pretti was wrongfully executed by immigration agents," while only 24% disagree. A Quinnipiac poll from February 2, 2026, reveals that 62% of registered voters believe Pretti’s shooting was unjustified, compared to just 22% who see it as justified. More broadly, 63% of registered voters disapprove of the way ICE is enforcing immigration laws, with only 34% approving.
The backlash has also fueled calls for legislative action. A GBAO poll from February 9, 2026, found that, by a margin of 52% to 36%, Americans support withholding Department of Homeland Security funding until ICE is reformed. Support for specific Democratic proposals to reform ICE ranges from 63%—for allowing private lawsuits against agents—to 75% for requiring ICE participation in state and local investigations into potential rights violations.
The public’s appetite for change extends to broader questions about the country’s approach to undocumented immigrants. The NBC News poll found that 67% of Americans believe undocumented immigrants should be given a chance to apply for legal status, while only 33% favor deportation. This sentiment echoes the view that the federal government has overstepped its bounds: 63% say the government has "gone too far" in disregarding local and state governments, while 37% blame state and local officials for ignoring federal authority. Notably, 57% of respondents blame the administration for street clashes between agents, protestors, and undocumented immigrants, rather than the protestors or immigrants themselves.
Trump’s allies have pointed to the president’s previous strength on immigration as evidence that his policies resonate with a significant segment of the electorate. Some argue that the administration’s actions are necessary to restore order and uphold the rule of law. However, the mounting public opposition—reflected in polling data from across the political spectrum—suggests that the events in Minneapolis may have fundamentally altered the political calculus.
How the administration responds to the current crisis, and whether it moves to address the widespread demand for reform, will likely determine the future of both Trump’s political fortunes and the nation’s immigration system. For now, the message from the American public is clear: the status quo is no longer acceptable.