1 of 6 | An anti-ICE sign stands in a snow bank on Friday as organizers are calling for an “economic blackout” as they urge Minnesotans to avoid shopping and stay home from work in Minnesota. Photo by Craig Lassig/UPI | License Photo
A survey released Friday found that 63% of registered U.S. voters disapprove of how Immigration and Customs Enforcement is handling its job, and 34% approve of President Donald Trump.
The poll was conducted by The New York Times and Siena Research Institute and interviewed 1,625 registered voters nationwide from Jan. 12 to 17. The margin of error was 2.8%. Due to the timeframe of the poll, those sampled likely knew about the death of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot and killed by ICE officer Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.
Respondents were asked, “Do you approve or disapprove of how Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly referred to as ICE, is handling its job?”
Answers were: strongly disapprove, 55%; strongly approve, 24%; somewhat approve, 12%; and somewhat disapprove, 8%. The overall disapprove rate was 63% and 36% approve, with 1% saying they don’t know.
Respondents were asked, “Thinking about the tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly referred to as ICE, do you think they have … [?]”
“Gone too far,” 61%; “not gone far enough,” 11%, “been about right, 26%; and “don’t know,” 1%.
When asked what the most important problem facing the United States is today, 12% said “immigration/immigration enforcement.” The highest number was “the economy (including jobs, stock market)” at 19%.
Poll respondents were more divided when asked about deportations. Respondents were asked their opinions of the statement, “The Trump administration’s deportations of immigrants living in the United States illegally.” The answers “strongly support” and “strongly oppose” were both at 32%. Net support was 50%, while net oppose was 47%. “Have not heard of this” was 3% and “don’t know/refused” was 1%.
Trump threatened to sue the Times and Siena over the poll, which showed his approval rating at 34%.
“The Times Siena Poll, which is always tremendously negative to me, especially just before the Election of 2024, where I won in a Landslide, will be added to my lawsuit against The Failing New York Times,” Trump wrote Thursday on Truth Social. “Our lawyers have demanded that they keep all Records, and how they ‘computed’ these fake results — Not just the fact that it was heavily skewed toward Democrats. They will be held fully responsible for all of their Radical Left lies and wrongdoing!”
Of the people polled, the self-reported political parties were 28% Democrats, 28% Republicans, and 36% independents.
“Fake and Fraudulent Polling should be, virtually, a criminal offense,” the president wrote in another post.
Immigration enforcement has been at the top of the news cycle for the past few weeks.
The Department of Homeland Security sent immigration officers to Minnesota in early January. While some civilians and local officials in Minneapolis protested their arrival, the unrest swelled after Good was killed.
Federal prosecutors subpoenaed Gov. Tim Walz, Mayor Jacob Frey and other Democratic elected officials. On Thursday, a 5-year-old boy was detained with his father. Activists were arrested after a protest during a church service.
Vice President JD Vance visited the city Thursday to “restore law and order” and to try to restore calm in the city, then he blamed local officials for the “chaotic” ICE enforcement.
The cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul and the state of Minnesota have filed a federal lawsuit to stop the federal action in their cities and state.
On Friday, many in the state participated in a one-day strike in which people called out from work and businesses closed. A march was planned for 2 p.m. CST.
On Wednesday, ICE officers initiated Operation Catch of the Day in Maine.
Chicago protestors gather at ICE detention center
Protestors confront Illinois State Police near an ICE detention center as they protest against the immigration policies of the Trump administration in Chicago on October 17, 2025. Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI | License Photo
