Voters Favor Immigrant Enforcement But Demand Caution from ICE

By Theodore Bunker | Friday, 30 January 2026 04:07 PM EST

A new poll commissioned by America One Policies PAC—a political group with ties to Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.)—reveals that while many Americans support continuing immigration enforcement and deportations, a significant portion of respondents want Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to avoid tactics that could escalate into confrontations or cause harm during arrests.

The survey found 41% of respondents, including 88% of Republicans and independents, do not want immigration enforcement or deportations to stop but prefer ICE to “avoid unnecessary harm and confrontation” during detainments. In contrast, only 24% agreed that “ICE’s aggressive tactics are necessary” because illegal immigration is a serious problem requiring tough enforcement.

The results underscore a political balancing act for Republicans like Cotton, who has closely aligned with President Donald Trump on immigration policy and advocates for robust enforcement measures. While broad support for deportations remains a powerful message within the party, the findings suggest that a meaningful share of voters are uneasy with methods that appear heavy-handed or prone to triggering backlash.

Recent tensions have arisen as the Trump administration pushes ICE to increase arrests and deportations while facing pressure from business groups and some lawmakers about potential economic disruption. Last June, the administration temporarily paused many immigration arrests at worksites in industries such as agriculture, restaurants, and hotels—a move that highlighted conflicts between enforcement goals and concerns over labor supply.

The guidance was short-lived and contributed to an intraparty debate over whether any sector should be treated differently. Cotton has publicly opposed retreating from enforcement, criticizing the temporary pause on CBS’ “Face the Nation” and stating that ICE agents “need the support of political leadership.”

According to the poll, Cotton discussed the findings with Senate Republicans during a closed-door lunch this week.

The survey’s methodology—including when it was conducted, who administered it for the PAC, sample size, and data collection techniques—remains unclear.