Trump’s immigration approval falls to lowest level, poll shows

WASHINGTON: Public support for US President Donald Trump’s immigration policies has dropped to its lowest point since his return to office, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, with a majority of Americans saying the government’s enforcement efforts have gone too far.

The nationwide poll, conducted from Friday through Sunday, found that only 39 per cent of respondents approve of Trump’s handling of immigration, down from 41 per cent earlier this month. Meanwhile, 53 per cent said they disapprove. Immigration had initially been a relative strength for Trump following his January inauguration, when approval stood at 50 per cent.

The survey period coincided with renewed tensions in Minneapolis, where federal immigration agents fatally shot a second US citizen during confrontations with protesters opposing the administration’s expanded deployment of immigration officers in major cities.

Trump campaigned on promises of large-scale deportations, and since taking office, masked immigration agents in tactical gear have become a common presence in many parts of the country. The crackdown has sparked protests nationwide, particularly after deadly encounters involving federal officers.

Administration officials said 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti was shot after allegedly assaulting officers during a protest in Minneapolis on Saturday, though bystander videos circulating online appear to contradict that account. Earlier this month, another US citizen, Renee Good, was killed by an immigration agent during a separate raid in the same city.

The poll found that 58 per cent of Americans believe Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have gone too far in their enforcement actions. Only 12 per cent said the agency has not gone far enough, while 26 per cent described its actions as appropriate. About 90 per cent of Democrats said ICE had overreached, compared with roughly 20 per cent of Republicans and 60 per cent of independents.

The backlash has unsettled some Republican lawmakers, who are already facing voter frustration over rising prices ahead of November’s midterm elections, when control of Congress and most state governorships will be contested.

In Minnesota, Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Madel withdrew from the race on Monday, saying the immigration crackdown had made it impossible for a Republican to win statewide.

Trump initially blamed Democrats for the deadly incidents but struck a more conciliatory tone on Monday, saying he shared “a similar wavelength” with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and describing a recent phone call between them as “very good.”

The poll also showed Trump’s overall job approval slipping to 38 per cent, matching the lowest level of his current term and down from 41 per cent in a January 12-13 survey.

Despite the decline, Trump continues to outperform his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, on immigration in public opinion. The poll found that 37 per cent of respondents trust Republicans more on immigration, compared with 32 per cent who favor Democrats. The remainder said they were unsure or saw no difference.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll surveyed 1,139 US adults nationwide and had a margin of error of approximately 3 percentage points.