With the November 3, 2026, midterm elections just days away, a new national survey reveals a significant shift in how Americans view Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). After months of intensified immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration, public opinion toward ICE is becoming increasingly negative.
For millions of immigrants and their families who are living with uncertainty about detention, deportation, and their future in the United States, these findings raise an important question: Could growing public dissatisfaction with ICE lead to meaningful changes in U.S. immigration policies after the midterm elections?
New Pew Research Poll: 56% of Americans View ICE Negatively
According to a Pew Research Center report published October 26, 2026, Americans’ opinions of ICE have deteriorated over the past year.
The survey of 5,062 U.S. adults, conducted between September 28 and October 4, 2026, found:
56%
Unfavorable view
35%
Favorable view
9%
Not sure
Source: Pew Research Center, October 26, 2026.
Pew Research Center
In 2025, 49% of Americans viewed ICE unfavorably. That number has now increased to 56%. ICE also ranked as the least favorably viewed of the 12 federal agencies and departments included in the survey.
Even among Republicans and Republican-leaning voters, traditionally more supportive of immigration enforcement, favorable opinions of ICE decreased from 72% to 67%.
Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters, unfavorable views increased from 78% to 84%.
The survey also found negative opinions among 69% of Black Americans, 67% of Hispanic Americans, and 66% of Asian Americans.
These numbers show that dissatisfaction with ICE extends beyond one political party or demographic group, although substantial partisan differences remain.
Why Are Americans Becoming More Critical of ICE?
The Trump administration has made aggressive immigration enforcement and deportations central priorities of its immigration agenda.
Supporters of stronger enforcement argue that immigration laws must be enforced, that unauthorized immigration should have consequences, and that deportations are necessary for public safety and border security.
Critics, including immigrant advocacy organizations, have raised concerns about detention conditions, family separation, due process, and enforcement operations affecting immigrants who have lived and worked in the United States for many years.
For immigrant families, these debates are not simply political. They affect whether parents can remain with their children, whether individuals can pursue legal relief without fear, and whether people facing deportation receive a meaningful opportunity to present their cases.
Importantly, the Pew survey measured opinions of ICE as an agency. It did not establish precisely why each respondent holds those opinions or whether every person who views ICE negatively supports reducing immigration enforcement.
Nevertheless, the growing negative perception creates a political environment in which elected officials may face additional questions about the fairness, effectiveness, and consequences of current enforcement practices.
Could This Affect the November 3, 2026, Midterm Elections?
The upcoming midterm elections will determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, along with numerous state and local offices.
The outcome matters because Congress has substantial authority over immigration laws, federal spending, and oversight of agencies such as ICE.
Immigration enforcement could become an important issue in competitive congressional races, particularly where voters are concerned about detention practices, deportation priorities, public safety, and government accountability.
However, unfavorable opinions of ICE do not automatically translate into votes for a particular political party. Voters may dislike certain ICE practices while continuing to support deportations or stricter immigration laws. Economic concerns, healthcare, and other issues may also play major roles in individual voting decisions.
The significance of the Pew findings is that immigration enforcement is facing increased public scrutiny at a moment when voters are preparing to select the next Congress.
What Could Change in U.S. Immigration Policy After the Midterms?
Depending on the election results, several developments could affect immigration enforcement in 2027.
1. Greater Congressional oversight of ICE
If the balance of power in Congress changes, lawmakers could increase investigations into ICE operations, detention conditions, deportation procedures, and allegations of abuse.
Congressional committees could summon government officials, request agency records, and hold public hearings concerning immigration enforcement.
Greater oversight would not automatically stop deportations, but it could create additional accountability and pressure for changes in how immigration laws are enforced.
2. Possible restrictions on ICE funding and operations
Congress controls federal appropriations and can establish conditions on how certain funds are spent.
Lawmakers could pursue additional safeguards involving detention facilities, enforcement operations, reporting requirements, or the treatment of vulnerable immigrants.
However, immigration enforcement already receives substantial federal funding through multiple laws, including funding extending beyond the next fiscal year. Changing those appropriations could require new legislation and agreement between Congress and the president.
3. Renewed discussion of immigration reform
A new Congress could reopen discussions about immigration reforms that have remained unresolved for years.
Potential areas of legislation include protections for Dreamers, solutions for longtime undocumented residents, improvements to immigration court procedures, family-based immigration backlogs, and increased access to legal representation.
These reforms would require sufficient political support to become law. Even if Congress passes new legislation, President Trump would generally need to sign it, or Congress would need sufficient votes to override a presidential veto.
4. Pressure to revise deportation priorities
The administration could face increased public and political pressure to reconsider enforcement practices, particularly those affecting people without serious criminal histories, parents of U.S. citizen children, and individuals with pending immigration cases.
The executive branch has considerable authority to establish enforcement priorities within existing law. Accordingly, some policy adjustments could be made administratively without Congress passing a comprehensive immigration reform bill.
However, there is no guarantee the administration would make those changes in response to the election results.
Will Immigration Policies Become More Humane in 2027?
For immigrants hoping that the midterm elections will bring an immediate end to aggressive immigration enforcement, it is important to understand that a change in Congress does not automatically mean a change in immigration law or presidential policy.
President Trump will remain in office after the midterm elections. ICE will continue operating, and existing immigration laws will remain in effect unless changed through appropriate legal processes.
Different election outcomes could have different implications. A divided government could produce more congressional investigations and spending negotiations, while continued unified control could allow existing enforcement priorities to proceed with fewer congressional obstacles.
More substantial immigration reforms would likely require cooperation between Congress and the White House.
Still, the Pew findings are important. They demonstrate that public attitudes toward immigration enforcement are changing, and that questions about fairness and accountability have become increasingly relevant to the national discussion.
For those who believe current enforcement policies have caused unnecessary suffering to immigrant families, increased public scrutiny may offer a reason for cautious hope. But meaningful improvements will depend on concrete legal, legislative, and administrative actions, not polling numbers alone.
What Should Immigrants Do While Waiting for Possible Changes?
At Shepelsky Law Group, we understand the fear and uncertainty that many immigrant families are experiencing.
However, immigrants should not postpone important legal decisions while waiting for election results or possible changes in immigration policy.
If you have a pending asylum case, removal proceedings, a family-based petition, a VAWA application, or another immigration matter, it is essential to understand your current rights and legal options.
There may be relief available under existing immigration laws, even while enforcement policies remain strict.
Our message to immigrant families is simple: Do not lose hope, but do not wait for political changes to protect your future.
Contact Shepelsky Law Group
If you or your family member are facing deportation, ICE detention, removal proceedings, or uncertainty about your immigration status, our experienced immigration attorneys can help you evaluate your options.
Call Shepelsky Law Group at 718-769-6352 to schedule an immigration consultation.
Your future and your family’s security deserve careful legal attention, regardless of the outcome of the November 2026 midterm elections.
Marina Shepelsky, Esq.
Shepelsky Law Group — Fighting for Immigrant Rights
Source: Pew Research Center, Americans’ Views of ICE Grow More Negative, October 26, 2026.