Polls Show Strong Support for Immigration Enforcement

A new national poll released this week indicates strong public support for stricter immigration enforcement, including deportations of individuals in the country without legal authorization and continued operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. The findings, from a survey of likely voters for the 2026 midterm elections, underscore widespread agreement that unauthorized entry into the United States constitutes a violation of the law.

The Cygnal poll, conducted January 27-28 among 1,004 likely midterm voters, carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.09 percent. It found that 73 percent of respondents view entering the country without legal permission as breaking the law. A majority, 61 percent, favor deporting those in the country illegally, compared to 34 percent who oppose such actions. Additionally, 54 percent support ICE in enforcing federal immigration laws and carrying out removals, while 58 percent oppose efforts to defund the agency. These views extend across political lines, with majorities of independents and swing voters aligning against defunding ICE.

A separate Harvard-Harris poll, conducted January 28-29, reinforces these trends,...