Story perspectives

Poll: Nearly Half Support Abolishing ICE Amid Immigration Shift

4/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

Public sentiment on immigration has shifted since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office after the January 20, 2025 inauguration, with nearly half of Americans supporting abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
A Gallup poll shows 30% want immigration reduced.
Seventy-nine percent view immigration positively.
Latino voter support for Trump has plummeted, shaping Republican strategies ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Both parties face immigration policy challenges.

History

Historical Context

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 3, abolished national origin quotas that had favored Northern and Western Europeans since the 1920s. This landmark legislation significantly increased immigration from Latin America and Asia, with over 1 million immigrants arriving annually by the 1980s, reshaping the U.S. demographic landscape and influencing contemporary immigration debates.

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Story summary

Public sentiment on immigration has shifted since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office after the January 20, 2025 inauguration, with nearly half of Americans supporting abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
A Gallup poll shows 30% want immigration reduced.
Seventy-nine percent view immigration positively.
Latino voter support for Trump has plummeted, shaping Republican strategies ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Both parties face immigration policy challenges.

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