Polling, Public Mobilization and Influencers Capture Galvanizing Moment on Immigration

Washington, DC — Earlier this week, America’s Voice Executive Director Vanessa Cárdenas highlighted that a “line has been crossed after the horrific killing of Renee Good,” noting that we were in the midst of a “galvanizing moment” for Americans, who were “recognizing the mass deportation agenda has gone way too far and this administration is engaged in an unchecked pattern of abuse, violence and impunity” that needed to be reined in and reformed.

In the past few days, we’ve seen more evidence of that assessment, as evidence of a backlash against the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant crusade and ICE deployments continue to grow. Examples include:

Fresh Polling: 

• Navigator Research: Navigator yesterday released the finding from new polling that 59% of Americans think ICE actions over the past year have been “overly aggressive,” vs. 24% who said “ICE has struck the right balance” and 12% who said “ICE has not been aggressive enough.” As Navigator noted, the 59% majority included “60% of independents and a plurality of non-MAGA Republicans.”
• Quinnipiac: Their new poll found that by a 57-40% margin, Americans disapprove of the way ICE is enforcing immigration laws. And by a 53-35% margin, a majority think the shooting of Renee Nicole Good was “unjustified.”
• YouGov/Economist: Their poll gauged several relevant questions, including finding:
  • By a 47-34% margin, Americans think ICE is making us “less safe” rather than “more safe”
  • By 56-32% margin, Americans believe that ICE officers shouldn’t be allowed to wear masks that hide their identities during arrests
  • By a 50-30% margin, Americans think the shooting of Ms. Good was “unjustified.”
  • By a 46-43% margin, Americans support abolishing ICE.

Podcaster Joe Rogan: Rogan, who endorsed Trump in 2024, equated ICE tactics to the Gestapo this week, noting: “You don’t want militarized people in the streets just roaming around, snatching up people — many of which turn out to be U.S. citizens that just don’t have their papers on them … Are we really gonna be the Gestapo, ‘Where’s your papers?’ Is that what we’ve come to?” Rogan’s latest comments are his sharpest yet criticism of the Trump immigration approach, which he has increasingly spoken out against over the past year, including labeling enforcement actions as “horrific.”

Mass Mobilizations: From the hundreds of protests and rallies across the nation in recent days to the growing local opposition and organizing in the face of administration deployments in Minneapolis and other targeted communities, there is an engaged and mobilized opposition that has emerged that goes well beyond immigration communities and organizations.

According to Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice:

“The growing backlash to the violent and militarized mass deportation agenda is not showing signs of dissipating. The majority of Americans recognize that this cruelty, overreach and abuse of power has no place in our democracy. There has to be a better way that upholds public safety, restores trust with law enforcement, protects Americans’ essential rights and that upholds our values. Yet, the Trump administration is showing no signs of reining in their approach and the deadly abuses it inflicts. Instead, they continue to deploy even more agents to Minneapolis while pushing their own warped version of the facts. In the process, they are reminding us why reform and accountability are so essential.”