The ongoing crackdown by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, or ICE, has led to significant public debate. Interestingly, around half of voters feel that ICE is a bit too aggressive with their deportation strategies. Support for deportation exists, but opinions vary on the target groups.
A recent investigation shows that 30% of voters would prefer to deport all undocumented immigrants, while about 60% agree that only those facing criminal charges should be deported, allowing others a chance to apply for citizenship. Approximately 10% think all undocumented immigrants should remain in the U.S.
Since 2015, deportation of illegal immigrants has generally received majority support.
According to a poll, Republicans (54%) are far more likely to think that illegal immigrants should be deported compared to Democrats (7%), with a quarter of independents (25%) in agreement.
While some Democrats—around 10%—support deporting at least illegal immigrants with criminal charges, others favor pathways for undocumented immigrants to stay. Current deportation strategies, however, evoke mixed reactions. Almost half, at 49%, believe ICE’s tactics are too aggressive, while 24% do not find them offensive. About 27% say deportation efforts are just about right.
Democrats largely view ICE’s actions as too harsh (81%). Republicans, on the other hand, are split, with some believing ICE is acting appropriately (43%) and others feeling they aren’t tough enough (40%). About 17% of Republicans share the view that ICE is too aggressive.
Independents seem to lean more towards thinking that ICE’s actions are aggressive (49%), as opposed to feeling they’re balanced (28%) or too lenient (23%).
When voters were asked about their concerns regarding illegal immigration, the primary issue highlighted was a strain on government programs (39%). Concerns about crime, terrorism, job competition, and cultural changes were less prevalent, with crime at 16% and terrorism at 10%. Compared to 15 years ago, worries over immigration and its economic impact have evolved. Back then, 63% were worried about government programs being overwhelmed, and whereas now it’s decreased to 53%.
Moreover, the majority of voters oppose a “one big beautiful bill” tied to immigration in the new budget. About 55% do not support increased funding for border walls, and 59% are against more spending for immigration detention centers.
A slight majority believe Republicans handle immigration better than Democrats, with President Trump’s approval ratings highest for border security (56% approving, 44% disapproving) and immigration (48% approval, 51% disapproval). Approval for foreign policy sits at 45%, the economy at 44%, and matters like inflation and tariffs at 36%. Overall, 46% approve of Trump’s performance, leaving 54% disapproving.
One factor contributing to Trump’s perceived success in border security is the significant approval from a fifth of voters. This trend is also reflected among independents, where over half express approval, making it his strongest issue.
As for Hispanic voters, their views on illegal immigration align fairly closely with general sentiment. About 60% support deportation for undocumented immigrants charged with crimes, while 15% prefer illegal immigrants to remain here. A majority—57%—think ICE is too aggressive, with 24% believing their actions are appropriate, and about 19% feeling they aren’t tough enough.
More than half of Hispanic voters favor Trump’s border security approach (54% approve), yet many disapprove of his immigrant policies (60% disapproval). Overall, 42% approval contrasts with 58% disapproval.
Among Hispanic voters, the foremost concern regarding illegal immigration is the additional burden on government resources (35%). Other issues of concern, such as crime (15%), employment (14%), culture (14%), and terrorism (11%), have also been noted.
The Fox News Survey, conducted from July 18th-21st, 2025, involved conversations with a random sample of 1,000 registered voters nationwide. Respondents participated through live interviews or online surveys after receiving texts. This poll carries a sampling error margin of ±3 percentage points, with higher errors for subgroup outcomes, specifically about ±9% among Hispanic voters. Besides sampling errors, question phrasing and order can influence results. Weights are applied to demographics to mirror the registered voter population.
