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What people say about ICE

Source reportMethodology

Overview

Adults are more negative than positive toward ICE overall. About 56% describe their opinion as negative, while 31% describe it as positive.

The statement frames show why the issue is more cross-pressured than a single favorability number. About 44% agree that ICE protects Americans, while 54% agree that ICE threatens Americans.

Stacked breakdown

56% describe ICE negatively, compared with 31% positively.

How would you describe your opinion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency in the U.S.?

Extremely negative
34.4%
Negative
13.6%
Slightly negative
7.4%
Neutral
13.8%
Slightly positive
5.7%
Positive
13.1%
Extremely positive
11.9%

2026 · base n 1,000 · +/- 3.3%

politics

View source data

Overall opinion leans negative

About 34% describe their view of ICE as extremely negative, and 56% are at least slightly negative overall.

Positive views are lower: about 31% describe their opinion as at least slightly positive.

Stacked breakdown

44% agree that ICE protects Americans, while 43% disagree.

Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protects Americans.

Completely disagree
23.8%
Disagree
12.0%
Somewhat disagree
7.4%
Neither agree nor disagree
12.7%
Somewhat agree
13.9%
Agree
11.5%
Completely agree
18.7%

2026 · base n 504 · +/- 4.6%

politics

View source data

The protect frame is nearly split

Asked whether ICE protects Americans, adults divide closely. About 44% agree, while 43% disagree.

That split is not the same as the overall favorability result, which is more negative.

Stacked breakdown

54% agree that ICE threatens Americans.

Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) threatens Americans.

Completely disagree
19.7%
Disagree
8.2%
Somewhat disagree
5.8%
Neither agree nor disagree
12.2%
Somewhat agree
12.1%
Agree
11.5%
Completely agree
30.5%

2026 · base n 496 · +/- 4.7%

politics

View source data

The threat frame lands more strongly

A larger share agrees that ICE threatens Americans: about 54% agree with that statement, compared with 34% who disagree.

Together, the measures show a public view that is negative overall but still pulled between protection and threat language.

Methodology

Full methodology
Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
Population
US adults age 18+
Field dates
2026-05-11 → 2026-05-11
Base (unweighted)
1,000
Margin of error
+/- 3.3%
Module
politics
Sponsor
Verasight
Weight variable
weight
Weighting targets
age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

Sources

[3]
  • 01
    How would you describe your opinion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency in the U.S.?Shows overall opinion of ICE.reports.verasight.io/reports/spsp26
  • 02
    Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protects Americans.Tests whether adults agree that ICE protects Americans.reports.verasight.io/reports/spsp26
  • 03
    Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) threatens Americans.Tests whether adults agree that ICE threatens Americans.reports.verasight.io/reports/spsp26

Citation

Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.

https://reports.verasight.io/reports/spsp26#q-politics-22

Verasight survey methodology

How Verasight conducts surveys.

This page describes the Verasight general survey contract, separate from how the Data Library packages it. Each wave's specific field dates, sample sizes, and module breakdown are listed in that wave's report.

Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting.
Population
US adults age 18+.
Sample design
Surveys are run as omnibus or single-topic waves. Omnibus waves are split into modules with their own respondent set, typically around one thousand respondents per module.
Field window
Each wave specifies its own field dates. Most omnibus waves field across roughly two weeks.
Weighting
Per-module weighting to CPS targets including age, race and ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, and metropolitan status.
Partisanship benchmark
Pew Research Center's NPORS benchmarking surveys, three-year running average.
Vote benchmark
2024 presidential vote population benchmarks.
Margin of error
Typically about plus or minus 3.4 to 3.6 percent per module at standard module sizes. Question-level MoE is recomputed when a base shrinks materially below the module baseline.
Reporting
Every wave is published as a standalone report at verasight.io/reports with full instrument and methodology.
Transparency
AAPOR transparency standards.

Wave-specific methodology, full weighting variable lists, and verbatim instrument text live in each report at verasight.io/reports.