A new NBC News poll shows that a majority of Americans disapprove of President Trump’s handling of border security and immigration, reflecting widespread public unease with the administration’s policies and enforcement actions.
The survey found that 60 percent of respondents either “strongly” or “somewhat” disapprove of how Trump has managed border security and immigration issues during his presidency. The poll also showed that 61 percent disapprove of the president’s overall job performance, while 39 percent said they approve.
Trump campaigned on a platform of cracking down on illegal immigration and deporting undocumented migrants with criminal histories. However, recent controversies, including the federal immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, appear to have shaped public opinion.
The killings of Minnesota residents Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal immigration officials last month drew national attention and criticism, particularly from Democratic state leaders who called on the Department of Homeland Security to halt operations in the state.
Democratic members of Congress have responded by pushing to block additional DHS funding unless reforms are made, including limiting agents’ use of masks, creating a uniform code of conduct, and changing warrant requirements. Negotiations are stalled as Republican leaders have resisted many of these conditions ahead of a looming funding deadline.
The poll also highlighted broad distrust of federal investigations into the Minnesota shootings, with 62 percent of respondents saying they lack confidence in a fair and transparent inquiry by federal authorities. The NBC News poll surveyed nearly 22,000 U.S. adults from Jan. 27 to Feb. 6 and has a margin of error of approximately 2.4 percentage points.
