Half of Americans now support abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to the latest Economist/YouGov poll, marking the first time backing for eliminating the agency has reached a majority in the survey's history. Fifty percent of respondents said they somewhat or strongly support abolishing ICE, while 39% oppose the idea.
Support has risen steadily since the start of the year. A majority of Independents now favor abolishing ICE for the first time, with 52% backing the measure. Most Republicans remain opposed, with 68% rejecting the proposal. 23%, however, say they support it. Majorities of Democrats have backed abolishing the agency in multiple polls this year.
The poll also found broad support for limiting how ICE officers operate if the agency remains in place. Three-quarters of Americans, 75%, say ICE officers should be required to wear uniforms identifying them as agency personnel, while 14% oppose the requirement.
Majorities across parties support such rules, including 92% of Democrats, 77% of Independents and 57% of Republicans. A majority of Americans, 59%, also say ICE agents should not be allowed to wear masks that conceal their faces.
Public confidence in the agency has declined. Only 26% of Americans say they have a great deal of confidence in ICE, while 44% say they have no confidence at all. A majority, 58%, say ICE uses excessive force, up from 51% in October. Most respondents, 68%, also say there should be an investigation into the January shootings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti during federal immigration enforcement operations.
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Earlier polling by Economist/YouGov in late January showed growing distrust in the agency. At that time, 55% of Americans said they had very little confidence in ICE, a 10-point increase from December. A majority also favored reducing ICE funding, with 51% supporting spending cuts, more than for any other category of federal spending tested in the survey.
Separate polling released by CBS News on Monday found similar skepticism toward ICE operations as most Americans said nationwide immigration enforcement actions should be decreased, though views remain sharply divided by party. Republicans largely support expanding deportation efforts, while Democrats and many Independents favor scaling them back.
The CBS poll also found limits to public support for immigration enforcement practices. While most Americans said ICE officers should be able to request proof of citizenship from individuals with an arrest warrant or criminal record, majorities opposed allowing agents to stop anyone at random or target people based on perceived race or ethnicity.
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