Overview
- A YouGov/The Economist survey of 1,515 adults conducted Feb. 27–Mar. 2 finds 50% support abolishing ICE and 39% opposition, a first in the pollster’s history (±3.4 pts).
- Support spans beyond Democrats, with 77% of Democrats, 52% of independents and 23% of Republicans favoring abolition, even as most Republicans still oppose it.
- Public backing for operational limits is broad, with 75% wanting clearly identifiable ICE uniforms and 59% opposing face-covering masks for agents.
- Confidence in the agency is low, with 56% reporting only a little or no confidence in ICE to conduct its work.
- The shift follows fatal shootings in Minneapolis and sustained oversight pressure, while a partial DHS funding shutdown continues over reform demands and Republican control of Congress makes abolition unlikely in the near term.