The scenes have become almost routine. Protesters are flooding the streets. Celebrities transforming award shows into political soapboxes. Elected officials are openly encouraging defiance against federal law enforcement. At the Grammys, “ICE Out” became the rallying cry of the night. In Minneapolis and beyond, Democratic politicians have stoked resistance against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers simply trying to do their jobs. The message from the left couldn’t be clearer: protecting illegal aliens trumps protecting American communities.

But here’s the thing. While coastal elites and radical activists soak up media attention, a very different sentiment exists across the rest of the country. The question isn’t whether Americans have noticed the chaos. It’s whether anyone in the Democrat Party bothers to listen to actual voters. Two major polls released this week suggest the left’s anti-enforcement crusade isn’t just unpopular. It’s political self-destruction in slow motion.

From Daily Wire:

Two new polls suggest that Americans broadly support the Trump administration’s deportation agenda even as “ICE Out” rages at the Grammys, though with some possible reservations about illegal aliens who have not committed other serious crimes.

“Voters see illegal immigration as a simple question of law and order,” said Cygnal founder and CEO Brent Buchanan. “The data leaves no wiggle room. Americans want the law enforced, they want illegal immigrants removed, and they punish politicians who try to block ICE from doing its job.”

The numbers behind his assessment are stunning. The Cygnal poll, conducted January 27-28 among over 1,000 likely 2026 midterm voters, found Americans support deporting illegal aliens by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. That’s 61% in favor versus just 34% opposed. Even more revealing? A full 73% of respondents agreed that entering the United States without legal permission is a violation of the law. Not a gray area. Not a matter of interpretation. A crime.

This isn’t some partisan divide playing out along predictable lines. This is mainstream America speaking with remarkable clarity about what kind of country they want to live in.

Democrats Pay the Price

Perhaps most damaging for the left is what happens when voters actually learn about Democratic positions on immigration enforcement. The Cygnal poll found that after respondents heard about Democratic calls to defund ICE or partially shut down the government over deportation funding, the generic ballot swung four points in favor of Republicans. In today’s razor-thin electoral environment, that’s not a stumble. That’s a faceplant.

The Harvard-Harris poll, also released this week, paints an equally brutal picture for obstruction-minded Democrats. Sixty percent of Americans believe Democrats are actively encouraging resistance to ICE officers. Meanwhile, 57% oppose elected officials who urge defiance against federal immigration authorities. Americans aren’t fooled by politicians who claim to support “border security” while simultaneously kneecapping the agencies tasked with enforcement.

The 58% of Americans who reject the “defund ICE” position aren’t fringe conservatives. They represent the silent majority who watched years of border chaos unfold and finally said enough.

Americans Want Cooperation, Not Chaos

When it comes to state and local involvement, the polling grows even more decisive. Two-thirds of Americans—67%—want state and local officials to cooperate with federal authorities to deport criminal illegal aliens. The same percentage says local jails should hand over criminal aliens to federal authorities for deportation. Even half of Democrats agree with that position. Let that marinate for a moment.

The Harvard-Harris poll found that 82% of Americans support deporting illegal aliens who have committed serious crimes. That’s not a majority. That’s a national consensus. Good luck spinning that one. And 63% extend that support to green card holders and legal permanent residents who have committed serious crimes. Americans understand something that seems lost on sanctuary city politicians: the privilege of residing in this country comes with the responsibility of following its laws.

President Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration isn’t just popular in ruby-red districts. It reflects the will of Americans across demographic and geographic lines. The administration’s decisive action, including its strong response to anti-ICE riots, enjoys solid majority approval.

Key Takeaways

• Americans support deporting illegal aliens by a 2-to-1 margin, with 73% agreeing that illegal entry breaks the law.
• Democratic calls to defund ICE create a 4-point ballot swing toward Republicans.
• Two-thirds of Americans want local officials to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
• 82% support deporting illegal aliens who have committed serious crimes—a national consensus.

Sources: Daily Wire, The White House