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A recent survey by YouGov shows that most Americans distrust the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and believe that the agency abuses its power when conducting arrests and deportations within the country.
According to the study, 53% of respondents disapprove of ICE's work, while only 39% support it.
Among Democrats, the rejection rate reaches 85%, and among independents, it stands at 62%.
In contrast, 79% of Republicans approve of the agency's performance during the current administration of Donald Trump.
The survey also shows that one in two Americans believes that ICE employs overly aggressive tactics.
More than half believe that the agency employs unnecessary force in its operations, both against citizens and immigrants, including those with legal residency.
The survey also reveals that 46% of respondents fear that someone they know may be mistreated by ICE agents, a concern that is increasing among Hispanic (72%) and African American (65%) communities, while decreasing among white Americans (38%).
The results show a broad consensus among Democrats and independents regarding the criticism of the agency, while Republicans mostly believe that ICE acts with the necessary firmness.
However, YouGov warns that when respondents are first exposed to cases of abuse against American citizens, disapproval of ICE increases by seven percentage points.
The survey also indicates that more than half of Americans believe that ICE unjustly arrests or deports both legally statused immigrants and citizens of the country.
Democrats and independents hold this perception in much greater proportions than Republicans, according to the study's results.
The fieldwork by YouGov was conducted between October 8 and 12, 2025, with a representative sample of 1,065 adult citizens of the United States and a margin of error of approximately four percentage points.
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