Most Americans Oppose Immigration Arrests at Schools, Churches as Trump Admin Set to Begin Raids

President Donald Trump's administration authorized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to carry out arrests in schools and churches. But new polling indicates that a majority of Americans oppose enforcement actions in those locations.

The survey, conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, revealed that most Americans agree on the importance of border security and targeted deportations. Roughly half of U.S. adults consider enhancing border security a high priority, and the majority support deporting immigrants convicted of violent crimes.

However, consensus weakens when it comes to broader measures, such as mass deportations or arrests in the aforementioned sensitive areas, the Associated Press reported. Only about 20% of respondents favored such actions, and roughly 60% opposed them. Even among Republicans, fewer than half expressed support for these measures.

The policy shift, announced by Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Benjamine Huffman through a statement on Tuesday, rescinds Obama-era guidelines that discouraged arrests in these areas.

"This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens—including murders and rapists—who have illegally come into our country," said Huffman. "Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America's schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense."

The poll also highlights broader public ambivalence about large-scale immigration enforcement. While about four in ten Americans support deporting all immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, a similar proportion oppose this.

Divisions persist along party lines, with Republicans largely favoring stricter enforcement and Democrats expressing concern over humanitarian impacts. Many Americans prefer that local law enforcement cooperate with federal authorities in some cases, though support diminishes for more invasive methods.

Trump's administration frames the measures as a response to what it describes as an "invasion" at the southern border, citing a surge in crossings during the Biden presidency, even though border arrests have declined since their peak in late 2023.