Defunding ICE Is a Politically Toxic Position for the Democrats
4th February 2026
In recent weeks, calls to defund or even abolish ICE have ramped up from the Democratic Party, particularly after the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. However, despite their rhetoric, American voters are far more aligned with Trump’s immigration crackdown. In fact, it looks like their views on immigration enforcement are so far out of touch with mainstream America that it could cost them the midterm elections.
The latest Cygnal survey has made some rather telling discoveries: enforcement is popular, defunding ICE is toxic, and Democrats are walking straight into an electoral buzz saw by pretending otherwise.
Cygnal, widely regarded as one of the most accurate private pollsters in the country, polled likely 2026 midterm voters and found that voters still see the border as a question of law, not vibes. A full 73 percent of voters say that entering the United States illegally is, in fact, breaking the law, which means most Americans still accept the basic premise behind the word “illegal.”