Poll: Independents Increasingly Uncomfortable with Trump's Immigration Tactics

AP-NORC survey finds growing opposition to federal crackdown on cities

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A new AP-NORC poll suggests political independents are increasingly uncomfortable with President Trump's immigration tactics, with about 6 in 10 U.S. adults saying he has 'gone too far' in sending federal agents into American cities. The survey found Trump's approval on immigration has fallen among independents since last spring, from 37% in March 2025 to 23% in the new poll.

Why it matters

Trump's core supporters remain overwhelmingly supportive of his immigration approach, but the poll indicates a shrinking Republican advantage on the issue, which could spell trouble for the party heading into the midterm elections. The findings also highlight growing concerns among independents about the president's use of federal law enforcement to crack down on protests and immigration enforcement.

The details

The poll found that about 3 in 10 U.S. adults trust Republicans to do a better job handling immigration, while a similar share say the same of Democrats. An additional 3 in 10, roughly, don't think either party would do a better job handling the issue, and about 1 in 10 say both parties would handle it equally well. The survey also found that about 6 in 10 Americans believe that Trump has 'gone too far' when using federal law enforcement at public protests in U.S. cities.

  • The AP-NORC poll was conducted February 5-8, 2026.

The players

President Trump

The Republican president whose core supporters remain overwhelmingly supportive of his immigration tactics, but who is facing growing opposition from independents.

Brenda Shaw

A 65-year-old independent human resources manager from South Haven, Michigan who is critical of Trump's immigration enforcement tactics, saying 'They're shooting U.S. citizens in the face and in the back.'

Teviss Crawford

A 20-year-old student from Baton Rouge, Louisiana who supports Trump's immigration crackdown and wishes the president could deport more immigrants in the country illegally.

Rick Kinnett

A 60-year-old independent Navy veteran from Crawfordsville, Indiana who is critical of Trump's use of federal agents, saying 'This is not what I signed up for. This is not what we're supposed to do. This is not constitutional.'

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What they’re saying

“I am glad that immigrants aren't just flooding across the border, but what he's doing now in our cities, pitting the military against our people, these are gestapo tactics.”

— Brenda Shaw, independent human resources manager (Associated Press)

“I don't think the deportations have been enough, to be honest. I think it's much too lax. If you crossed into our country illegally, it's just not right. You're taking things away from people who were born here.”

— Teviss Crawford, student (Associated Press)

“Having the border shut, that's OK. But what Trump is doing with ICE and Homeland Security? You don't go yanking people out of cars. You don't go shooting people. I spent eight years in the military. This is not what I signed up for. This is not what we're supposed to do. This is not constitutional.”

— Rick Kinnett, Navy veteran (Associated Press)

What’s next

The poll results suggest Trump's immigration tactics could be a liability for Republicans heading into the 2026 midterm elections, as independents increasingly voice opposition to the president's approach.

The takeaway

While Trump's core supporters remain firmly behind his hardline immigration policies, the AP-NORC poll indicates growing unease among political independents about the president's use of federal agents to crack down on cities and protests. This shift could signal trouble for Republicans on a signature issue.