Private Republican polling reviewed by President Donald Trump's team and reported has shown declining support for his immigration policies, prompting quiet concern among some senior advisers about the political impact of the administration's aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics, according to a new report.
The internal polling, conducted late last year and reported by Axios, suggested weakening backing among independent, moderate and minority voters who were central to Trump's 2024 election victory. Those findings, which mirror recent public surveys, have intensified scrutiny inside the White House as images of ICE operations — particularly following the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis — continue to circulate widely on television and social media.
According to Axios, some advisers have begun discussing whether the administration should "recalibrate" how immigration enforcement is carried out, though there is little indication the president is prepared to shift course.
A senior Trump adviser told the outlet that the president remains committed to mass deportations but is uneasy with the public optics. "He wants deportations. He wants mass deportations," the adviser said. "What he doesn't want is what people are seeing. He doesn't like the way it looks."
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The private GOP polling found that 60% of independent voters and 58% of undecided voters believed Trump was too focused on deporting undocumented immigrants. About one-third of respondents said they believed the administration was primarily deporting law-abiding people rather than criminals.
Public polling released in mid-January supports those findings. Surveys from CNN and YouGov found that majorities of Americans believe ICE enforcement actions are making cities less safe. An Associated Press poll conducted after Good's death found that just 38% of Americans approve of Trump's immigration policies. Other surveys showed that more Americans viewed the Minneapolis shooting as unjustified than justified.
The political stakes are high as Republicans look ahead to the midterm elections. Advisers worry that further erosion among swing voters could jeopardize the party's narrow House majority, potentially limiting Trump's leverage in the latter half of his term.
Despite the internal unease, the White House has publicly maintained its hardline stance. Trump recently threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota, and senior officials including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller continue to support the current enforcement strategy.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axio that Trump "continues to be viewed as a strong leader who keeps the American people safe," adding that immigration and border security remain among his strongest issues with voters.
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