Support For Abolishing ICE Surges Among Republicans
Jan 25, 2026 at 10:17 AM EST
By Marni Rose McFall
Support for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has surged among Republicans, according to a new poll from The Economist and YouGov.
In early January, 15 percent of Republicans were in support of abolishing ICE. Now, that number has jumped to 19 percent.
Why It Matters Calls for the abolition of ICE have risen as clashes between immigration officers and the public continue, and backlash against ICE grows.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the subsidiary agency ICE were established under the Homeland Security Act in 2002, following 9/11, and the agency was given powers to detain people they suspected were in the country illegally.
In the space of less than three weeks in Minnesota, both Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, and Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, have been shot dead by immigration agents in Minneapolis.
These killings have sparked widespread protests and condemnation. But it’s not just this that has sparked outrage over the immigration crackdown—32 people died in ICE custody in 2025, in what marks the agency’s deadliest year in two decades. There have also been wider concerns about ICE’s conduct, including over arrests without due process, arrests of children, and racial profiling.
This most recent YouGov poll was taken on January 25, 2026. A total of 3,359 U.S. adults were surveyed.
It showed that 46 percent strongly or somewhat strongly support the abolition of ICE—34 and 12 percent respectively. Twelve percent of people responded that they were unsure, and 41 percent were opposed, with 10 percent somewhat opposing, and 31 percent strongly opposing.
Eight percent of Republicans strongly supported abolishing ICE, and 11 percent somewhat supported. 73 percent of Republicans were in opposition, with 13 percent somewhat opposing and 60 percent strongly opposing.
Support was strongest among Democrats, with 76 percent supporting abolishing ICE—62 percent supporting strongly, and 14 percent somewhat supporting.
This poll follows one taken between January 9 and January 12, shortly after the killing of Good. Support has surged among Republicans by four percentage points over a period of roughly two weeks.
Democratic Congressman Shri Thanedar of Michigan introduced the Abolish ICE Act earlier this month. His bill looks to dismantle ICE and calls for the termination of federal funding to ICE.
Attention is constantly on Minnesota in response to the killings, and as ICE continues its operation. State officials have continued to call for ICE to leave the state.
Numerous politicians have now voiced their support for the abolition of ICE.
What People Are SayingRepublican Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy: "The events in Minneapolis are incredibly disturbing. The credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake. There must be a full joint federal and state investigation. We can trust the American people with the truth."
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, in a post on X on January 24: "As tens of thousands across America protest the violence that ICE sows with impunity, federal agents shot and killed another person in Minneapolis today. ICE terrorizes our cities. ICE puts us all in danger. Abolish ICE."
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, in a post on X on January 24: "It's time to abolish Trump’s ICE."
What Happens Next?In the wake of Pretti’s shooting, the odds of a government shutdown taking place have shot up as Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said his party will block a Department of Homeland Security funding package.
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