President Donald Trump faces a significant decline in public support for his immigration policies, with recent data showing an approval rating of just 39%. A Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted from March 15 to March 17, 2024, reveals that 53% of Americans disapprove of his handling of immigration, and 58% believe federal agents have overstepped their boundaries during enforcement operations. This reversal comes in the wake of a controversial shooting incident involving federal agents that has drawn national attention.
On March 16, Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, during an operation in Minneapolis. This incident marks the second fatal shooting of a US citizen by federal immigration officers in the state within a month, raising alarms and sparking protests across the country. The public reaction reflects a growing concern about the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement strategies. Just a year prior, Trump enjoyed a 50% approval rating on immigration issues, with 41% disapproving—a striking 11-point shift in public sentiment.
According to Larry Jacobs, a public affairs professor at the University of Minnesota, “The approval for Donald Trump on an issue that worked for him, immigration, is down and going down further.” The recent poll surveyed 1,139 US adults with a margin of error of approximately three percentage points. Political divisions are evident; nearly 90% of Democrats and 60% of independents believe federal agents have crossed the line, while only 20% of Republicans share this view.
Official statements from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) justified the shooting, claiming Pretti approached agents armed with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and resisted attempts to disarm him. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem labeled the incident as “domestic terrorism,” asserting Pretti intended to inflict harm. However, video evidence contradicts these claims, showing Pretti holding his mobile phone while recording officers shortly before the shooting. His family asserted in a statement, “Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs.”
Political repercussions are evident among Republican circles, with some strategists expressing concern that the enforcement missteps may turn immigration from a political advantage into a liability for the party. Trump’s overall approval rating has also dipped to 38%, matching the lowest point of his current term. Despite this, the poll indicates that Americans still trust Republicans more than Democrats on immigration issues, with 37% favoring the GOP compared to 32% for Democrats.
The fatal shooting of Pretti occurred just 17 days after another incident in which ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Good, also a 37-year-old US citizen, in Minneapolis. Trump previously claimed Good “viciously ran over” the agent, but video evidence again suggests a discrepancy between official statements and eyewitness accounts.
The recent events have dominated national news and prompted widespread protests in major cities. A GoFundMe campaign for Pretti’s family surpassed $1 million within 24 hours, reflecting public outrage. Notably, the NBA postponed a game for the Minnesota Timberwolves due to safety concerns, holding moments of silence for both Pretti and Good.
In response to the crisis, Trump announced plans to send Border Czar Tom Homan to meet with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. While Frey confirmed that some federal agents would begin leaving the city on March 19, he expressed a desire for their complete withdrawal.
As the congressional midterm elections draw closer, immigration enforcement is poised to become a contentious issue for Republican candidates. The discrepancies between government narratives and video evidence have eroded public trust and raised questions about the appropriateness of current enforcement tactics. Law enforcement experts suggest that the methods employed in urban settings may not align with professional standards, further complicating the political landscape.
Americans appear to differentiate between the desire for border security and approval of the methods used to achieve it, a distinction that may significantly influence immigration politics as the midterms approach.
