A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates that President Donald Trump is losing ground on immigration policy. Among registered voters, 40% believe Republicans have a better approach, while 38% favor Democrats.
The narrow margin represents a notable decrease from earlier in Trump’s second term. In January 2025, Republicans led by 26 percentage points shortly after Trump took office. Despite these numbers, the White House maintains strong support for Trump’s presidency. Davis Ingle, a spokesperson, praised Trump’s accomplishments in job creation, inflation cooling, and housing affordability.
The Republican immigration policy has generally been more popular than the Democrats’. Trump’s term saw a reduction in border crossings and increased enforcement. However, recent issues have impacted public opinion. There have been deadly confrontations, a rise in detainee deaths, and a surge in detained children.
The poll, conducted online over four days with 1,166 respondents, reported a margin of error of 3 percentage points. Newsweek attempted to gain further comments from the White House.
Decline in Approval of Trump’s Immigration Policy
When Trump assumed office in January 2025, 48% of Americans approved of his immigration handling, according to Ipsos polling. His hardline approach was crucial to his re-election success in 2024. By June, approval dropped to 44%, with significant protests occurring in Los Angeles following ICE raids.
Trump responded by deploying 2,000 National Guard members to counter the protests, an action criticized by Governor Gavin Newsom, who sued Trump over federalization. Similar protests erupted in New York City, Chicago, and Dallas.
Support further declined in February 2026 following the ICE operation Metro Surge, involving allegations of fraud among Somali residents in Minnesota. During the operation, deaths of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti occurred, sparking nationwide protests.
The Ipsos/Reuters poll follows another ICE-related fatal shooting. Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 25-year-old Colombian, was shot by an ICE agent in July, marking the ninth death since Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Concerns have also risen about deaths in ICE custody. In 2025, 30 people died in custody, the highest since 2004. In the first five months of 2026, 18 deaths have occurred, possibly surpassing last year’s figure.
Despite declining support, Trump and his allies defend the crackdown, citing it as essential for border security. During the 2026 State of the Union address, Trump emphasized record deportations making communities safer.
Overall Approval Rates
Trump’s overall approval has fallen, reaching the lowest of his second term. The Reuters/Ipsos poll showed 33% of respondents approving of his performance, while 64% disapprove.
The ongoing war in Iran contributes significantly to discontent, with six months of stalled peace negotiations fostering concerns about the conflict duration.
The poll revealed 80% believe the conflict will persist, with 16% expecting it to end quickly. The war’s impact on oil trade has increased gasoline prices, affecting the cost of living.
Even amidst the fallout, Trump defended his decisions regarding the war’s impact on oil prices.
Regarding the economy, voters showed slight preference for Democrats, with 38% trusting them over Republicans, who garnered 35% support.
Anticipating the Midterm Elections
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, the shrinking partisan gap on immigration could signal challenges for Republicans, traditionally strong on the issue. If Democrats maintain gains, Republicans may need other issues to mobilize voters for congressional races.
Upcoming months will reveal the influence of enforcement tactics and detention policies on public opinion, and whether the administration’s border security successes regain support for Republicans.