ICE and Mass Deportations
Posted By David On
Despite thinking that ICE is too aggressive and that the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti were unjustified, white voters still overwhelmingly support mass deportations. - Despite nominal opposition to policies which may be necessary to restoring order such as invoking the Insurrection Act and suspending habeas corpus, respondents still overwhelmingly agree that failing to restore order will encourage more violence in the long-term.
By David Zsutty
Minneapolis, Minnesota has become a flashpoint between immigration enforcement and anti-ICE protestors. In response, we polled 815 respondents who are politically and demographically representative of white, non-Hispanic American registered voters between January 28 and February 8, 2026. The margin of error was plus or minus 3%.
1. Attitudes towards ICE and Deportations
We began by asking respondents whether they want the rate of deportations to increase or decrease:
| Q.1 Since January 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims to have accomplished 675,000 deportations and 2 million self-deportations. Do you want the deportations of illegal immigrants to: | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Greatly increase | 25.6% | 2.0% | 23.0% | 48.1% |
| Increase | 17.3% | 3.6% | 13.2% | 32.7% |
| Stay about the same | 15.3% | 11.3% | 20.6% | 14.1% |
| Decrease | 20.5% | 41.5% | 21.0% | 2.4% |
| Greatly decrease | 16.4% | 35.9% | 15.6% | 0.7% |
| I don’t know | 4.8% | 5.6% | 6.6% | 2.0% |
Overall, there was more support for increasing rather than decreasing deportations. This was at odds with how respondents tended to think that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has been too aggressive in Minneapolis and overall:
| Q.2 In conducting deportations overall, do you think that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been: | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Too aggressive | 53.6% | 95.6% | 58.0% | 14.1% |
| About right | 31.9% | 2.4% | 26.8% | 61.3% |
| Not aggressive enough | 12.3% | 0.8% | 12.5% | 22.2% |
| I don’t know | 2.2% | 1.2% | 2.7% | 2.4% |
| Q.3 In conducting deportations in Minneapolis, Minnesota, do you think that (ICE) has been: | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Too aggressive | 57.9% | 97.2% | 61.1% | 21.2% |
| About right | 25.5% | 1.6% | 23.7% | 47.8% |
| Not aggressive enough | 12.8% | 0.4% | 10.5% | 25.6% |
| I don’t know | 3.8% | 0.8% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
Additionally, aside from Republicans, respondents tended to think that the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti were unjustified, despite ample evidence to the contrary:
| Q.12 Was the ICE killing of Renee Good: | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Completely justified | 19.9% | 0.8% | 15.2% | 39.7% |
| Mostly justified | 19.8% | 0.8% | 20.6% | 35.4% |
| Unjustified | 10.3% | 7.7% | 16.3% | 7.1% |
| Completely unjustified | 41.1% | 88.7% | 37.7% | 4.0% |
| I don’t know | 9.0% | 2.0% | 10.1% | 13.8% |
| Q.13 Was the Border Patrol killing of Alex Pretti: | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Completely justified | 13.5% | 0.4% | 10.1% | 27.9% |
| Mostly justified | 14.1% | 0.4% | 11.7% | 27.6% |
| Unjustified | 9.2% | 5.6% | 10.9% | 10.8% |
| Completely unjustified | 46.4% | 90.3% | 48.6% | 7.7% |
| I don’t know | 16.8% | 3.2% | 18.7% | 25.9% |
This paradox deepened in the next question, in which respondents, including Independents, tended to agree that it is illogical to claim to support mass deportations but then fold under pressure when people resist, thereby necessitating coercion:
| Q.4 Which of the following best describes your opinion of this statement: | ||||
| “It is illogical to claim to support mass deportations but then fold under pressure when people resist, thereby necessitating coercion.” | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Strongly Agree | 17.7% | 8.9% | 17.5% | 25.6% |
| Agree | 28.0% | 15.3% | 24.5% | 41.8% |
| Neutral | 18.4% | 16.9% | 18.7% | 18.5% |
| Disagree | 12.8% | 16.5% | 16.7% | 6.1% |
| Strongly Disagree | 9.1% | 21.8% | 5.4% | 2.0% |
| I don’t know | 14.1% | 20.6% | 17.1% | 6.1% |
One possible explanation is that voters want things without wanting to pay for them in a classic case of wanting to have their cake and eat it too. Another more generous explanation is that the mainstream media has partially succeeded in defaming ICE but not in shaking voters’ support for mass deportations or law and order, which was their main objective behind defaming ICE.
2. Law and Order
There was high support for aggressively prosecuting fraud linked to immigration, with even more Democrats supporting rather than opposing such a course of action.
| Q.5 Which of the following best describes your opinion on aggressively prosecuting fraud linked to immigration? | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Strongly support | 43.2% | 11.3% | 43.6% | 69.7% |
| Support | 28.3% | 31.9% | 28.8% | 25.6% |
| Neutral | 14.7% | 28.6% | 16.0% | 2.4% |
| Oppose | 6.0% | 13.3% | 5.1% | 0.7% |
| Strongly Oppose | 4.3% | 8.1% | 3.1% | 1.3% |
| I don’t know | 3.4% | 6.9% | 3.5% | 0.3% |
There was also high support for prosecuting CNN anchor Don Lemon for disrupting a church service, with opposition mainly being driven by Democrats. Note: Don Lemon was charged along with eight other defendants on or about January 30, near the start of this poll.
| Q.6 On January 18, in Saint Paul Minnesota, CNN anchor Don Lemon led a group of anti-ICE protestors in disrupting a church service and intimidating the church goers. They allegedly blocked parents and children from reaching each other and yelled at children. | ||||
| However, the Department of Justice formally withdrew its request for arrest warrants against Lemon and four others due to multiple judicial setbacks. | ||||
| Which of the following best describes your opinion on aggressively prosecuting Don Lemon and the other individuals who disrupted the church service for conspiracy to deprive rights, or similar? | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Strongly support | 35.6% | 4.0% | 31.9% | 65.7% |
| Support | 21.0% | 13.3% | 25.7% | 23.2% |
| Neutral | 8.3% | 11.3% | 11.3% | 3.4% |
| Oppose | 11.3% | 23.4% | 10.5% | 2.0% |
| Strongly Oppose | 17.9% | 38.7% | 13.6% | 3.7% |
| I don’t know | 5.9% | 9.3% | 7.0% | 2.0% |
There was a similar pattern in support for prosecuting individuals in Signal chats which coordinated impeding ICE operations for insurrection and conspiracy to riot, along with prosecuting those who aid and abet “de-arresting” including those who provide funding and training.
| Q.7 Independent journalist Cam Higby infiltrated several Signal group chats which were organized for protesting and impeding ICE operations. Around January 24, release the message logs. It was revealed that the Lt. Governor of Minnesota, Peggy Flanagan, is one of the administrators of the Signal chats. | ||||
| Which of the following best describes your opinion on aggressively prosecuting Peggy Flanagan and other individuals in the Signal group chats for conspiracy to riot, insurrection, or otherwise? | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Strongly support | 34.1% | 4.4% | 28.0% | 64.3% |
| Support | 17.1% | 7.7% | 20.2% | 22.9% |
| Neutral | 9.1% | 8.5% | 13.2% | 5.4% |
| Oppose | 11.7% | 22.2% | 12.5% | 2.4% |
| Strongly oppose | 21.8% | 46.8% | 20.2% | 1.7% |
| I don’t know | 6.3% | 10.5% | 5.8% | 3.4% |
| Q.8 The group “MN ICE Watch” had materials training their activists to “de-arrest” people detained by law enforcement officers through tactics like pressuring, swarming, and assaulting officers. The training materials also described each de-arrest as a “micro-intifadah.” Most jurisdictions generally treat assaulting law enforcement as a felony. | ||||
| Which of the following best describes your opinion on aggressively prosecuting those who aid and abet “de-arresting,” to include those who provide funding or training? | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Strongly support | 40.5% | 3.6% | 38.1% | 73.1% |
| Support | 17.8% | 17.3% | 19.5% | 17.2% |
| Neutral | 11.5% | 17.7% | 13.6% | 4.4% |
| Oppose | 11.4% | 25.0% | 10.5% | 1.0% |
| Strongly oppose | 13.9% | 27.4% | 12.8% | 3.0% |
| I don’t know | 4.9% | 8.9% | 5.4% | 1.3% |
There was more opposition than support for invoking the Insurrection Act to restore order, and there was even lower support for suspending habeas corpus, including among Independents. However, this does not mean that these are not valid or even necessary measures.
| Q.9 The Insurrection Act authorizes the President to deploy military forces to suppress insurrections, rebellions, domestic violence, or to enforce federal/state laws when ordinary enforcement is impracticable. It has been invoked about thirty times. | ||||
| If it proves impossible or unreasonably difficult to prosecute and convict anti-ICE rioters and co-conspirators due to biased judges, juries, and prosecutors, which of the following best describes your opinion on invoking the Insurrection Act? | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Strongly support | 23.4% | 0.4% | 19.8% | 46.1% |
| Support | 18.2% | 3.6% | 17.1% | 32.0% |
| Neutral | 9.1% | 5.2% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| Oppose | 12.3% | 16.5% | 14.4% | 6.7% |
| Strongly oppose | 32.9% | 71.0% | 30.4% | 2.7% |
| I don’t know | 4.2% | 3.2% | 6.6% | 3.0% |
| Q.10 Habeas corpus allows a person detained by the government to challenge the lawfulness of their imprisonment or detention in court. | ||||
| If it proves impossible or unreasonably difficult to prosecute and convict anti-ICE rioters and co-conspirators due to biased judges, juries, and prosecutors, which of the following best describes your opinion on suspending habeas corpus? | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Strongly support | 10.3% | 4.4% | 9.3% | 16.5% |
| Support | 12.6% | 5.6% | 12.8% | 17.8% |
| Neutral | 15.5% | 5.6% | 15.2% | 23.9% |
| Oppose | 15.3% | 11.3% | 15.2% | 19.2% |
| Strongly oppose | 40.2% | 69.0% | 41.6% | 14.5% |
| I don’t know | 6.0% | 4.0% | 5.8% | 8.1% |
However, respondents were more likely to see the legal system as biased against conservatives than against liberals, including Independents.
| Q.11 In America, is the legal system generally: | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Biased against conservatives | 26.9% | 1.2% | 23.7% | 51.5% |
| Mostly fair to conservatives and liberals | 41.8% | 42.3% | 47.1% | 38.0% |
| Biased against liberals | 19.0% | 44.0% | 13.2% | 2.4% |
| I don’t know | 12.3% | 12.5% | 16.0% | 8.1% |
Despite nominal opposition to policies which may be necessary to restoring order, respondents still overwhelmingly agreed that failing to restore order will encourage more violence in the long-term, with disagreement being primarily driven by Democrats:
| Q.14 Which of the following best describes your opinion of this statement: | ||||
| “Failing to restore order in Minneapolis and Minnesota will encourage more violence in the long-term.” | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Strongly agree | 45.3% | 12.9% | 40.9% | 76.4% |
| Slightly agree | 18.4% | 16.9% | 19.8% | 18.5% |
| Neutral | 7.6% | 11.3% | 11.3% | 1.3% |
| Slightly disagree | 7.9% | 14.1% | 9.3% | 1.3% |
| Strongly disagree | 18.4% | 41.5% | 15.6% | 1.3% |
| I don’t know | 2.5% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 1.0% |
3. Exploring Alternatives
We next explored various alternatives to ICE raids in blue cities which voters might be more comfortable with.
Support for mass deportation sweeps of the agriculture and hotel industries was not particularly high outside of Republicans:
| Q.15 Which of the following best describes your opinion on conducting mass deportation sweeps without exemptions for the agriculture and hotel industries? | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Strongly support | 20.7% | 3.2% | 19.5% | 36.7% |
| Support | 20.6% | 2.8% | 19.1% | 37.0% |
| Neutral | 8.7% | 2.8% | 10.9% | 11.8% |
| Oppose | 15.7% | 21.4% | 17.5% | 9.1% |
| Strongly Oppose | 30.3% | 66.5% | 28.0% | 1.7% |
| I don’t know | 3.9% | 3.2% | 5.1% | 3.7% |
However, there was widespread support for aggressively prosecuting business owners who employ illegal immigrants and for making use of E-Verify (which is free) mandatory:
| Q.16 Which of the following best describes your opinion on aggressively prosecuting business owners who knowingly or recklessly employ illegal immigrants? | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Strongly support | 28.3% | 8.1% | 27.2% | 46.5% |
| Support | 27.9% | 16.5% | 27.2% | 38.4% |
| Neutral | 12.3% | 14.9% | 15.2% | 8.1% |
| Oppose | 13.5% | 23.0% | 13.2% | 5.1% |
| Strongly Oppose | 16.4% | 35.9% | 15.2% | 0.7% |
| I don’t know | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.9% | 1.3% |
| Q.17 E-Verify is a free web-based system provided by the government that allows employers to check the immigration status of their employees. It is mandatory for certain types of employers in 24 states. | ||||
| What is your opinion on a federal law making E-Verify mandatory for all employers nationwide with stiff criminal penalties for failing to use it? | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Strongly support | 34.4% | 9.1% | 31.6% | 59.8% |
| Support | 27.4% | 22.0% | 31.6% | 31.3% |
| Neutral | 14.5% | 25.3% | 15.6% | 5.2% |
| Oppose | 9.4% | 18.7% | 9.6% | 2.4% |
| Strongly Oppose | 11.8% | 24.9% | 11.6% | 1.4% |
| I don’t know | 2.6% | 2.9% | 2.8% | 2.1% |
4. Immigration Levels
Overall, there was extremely high support for deporting illegal immigrants with criminal records, even among Democrats. This means that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s and others’ attempts to shield “the worst of the worst” (who are showcased on a searchable Department of Homeland Security website [1]) are seriously against the grain of public opinion.
| Q.18 Which of the following best describes your opinion on deporting all or almost all illegal immigrants with criminal records? | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Strongly support | 56.1% | 18.2% | 55.5% | 90.5% |
| Support | 24.0% | 41.7% | 26.6% | 8.2% |
| Neutral | 10.2% | 23.1% | 9.8% | 0.3% |
| Oppose | 5.8% | 12.0% | 5.5% | 0.7% |
| Strongly Oppose | 2.7% | 5.0% | 2.7% | 0.3% |
| I don’t know | 1.2% | 2.5% | 0.4% | 1.0% |
| Q.19 Which of the following best describes your opinion on deporting all or almost all illegal immigrants, regardless of whether they have criminal records? | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Strongly support | 23.2% | 2.8% | 22.7% | 40.8% |
| Support | 20.9% | 2.4% | 21.2% | 37.4% |
| Neutral | 10.6% | 5.7% | 11.4% | 14.3% |
| Oppose | 17.1% | 26.8% | 21.6% | 5.4% |
| Strongly Oppose | 27.5% | 62.2% | 23.1% | 2.0% |
| I don’t know | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1.0% |
| Q.20 Which of the following best describes your opinion on reducing the amount of legal immigration? | ||||
| Results by Party | ||||
| % All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
| Strongly support | 12.9% | 2.8% | 12.1% | 22.2% |
| Support | 15.5% | 8.5% | 14.0% | 22.2% |
| Neutral | 22.8% | 15.7% | 21.8% | 29.3% |
| Oppose | 25.0% | 31.5% | 28.0% | 17.8% |
| Strongly Oppose | 22.3% | 40.3% | 22.2% | 7.1% |
| I don’t know | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.9% | 1.3% |
There was close to equal support for and opposition to deporting all illegal immigrants regardless of whether they have criminal records, including among Independents.
Aside from Republicans, there was low support for reducing the amount of legal immigration. However, that does not mean that those who want less legal immigration cannot form a cohesive voting bloc which can make demands.
5. Key Takeaways
- The mainstream media may have succeeded in defaming ICE as too aggressive and in framing the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti as unjustified. However, this has not translated into opposition to mass deportations or other forms of immigration enforcement.
- Respondents, including Independents, tend to at least claim to understand that it is illogical to support mass deportations but then fold under pressure when people resist, thereby necessitating coercion.
- Despite nominal opposition to policies which may be necessary to restoring order such as invoking the Insurrection Act and suspending habeas corpus, respondents still overwhelmingly agreed that failing to restore order will encourage more violence in the long-term, with disagreement being primarily driven by Democrats.
- There is high support for aggressively prosecuting fraud linked to immigration, even among Democrats.
- There is high support for prosecuting CNN anchor Don Lemon for disrupting a church service as part of an anti-ICE “protest,” individuals in Signal chats which coordinated to impede ICE operations, and those who aid and abet “de-arresting” including those who provide funding and training. Opposition to such prosecution is mainly being driven by Democrats.
- There is widespread support for aggressively prosecuting business owners who employ illegal immigrants and for making use of E-Verify (which is free) mandatory.
- There is very high support for deporting illegal immigrants with criminal records, even among Democrats.
- There is about equal support and opposition for deporting all illegal immigrants regardless of whether they have criminal records.
- There is low support for reducing the amount of legal immigration except among Republicans. However, that does not mean that those who want less legal immigration cannot form a cohesive voting bloc which can make demands.