How do Americans feel about barring ICE from churches, schools? What new poll found
With an increased crackdown on immigration since President Donald Trump took office nearly one month ago, a new poll found support for his policies is lacking among Americans.
The majority of Americans oppose Trump’s new policy that allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement to make arrests in protected spaces and his executive order ending birthright citizenship, a poll by NPR/Ipsos published on Feb. 14 found.
Hours after assuming office on Jan. 20, Trump signed an executive order that repealed birthright citizenship for children born on U.S. soil whose parents were immigrants without documentation. The constitutionally challenged move has been blocked in court by four federal judges as of Feb. 13, CBS reported.
The Trump Administration then rescinded a 2011 rule that barred ICE from making arrests at protected spaces, such as churches, schools and hospitals.
The poll conducted in February found that 54% of voters oppose these two policy changes.
ICE arrests in churches, schools and hospitals
The rule change announced Jan. 21 by the Department of Homeland Security said immigrants with a criminal record were “able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.”
Critics of the repeal say families without immigration documentation may avoid seeking medical care or attending school and church out of fear they could be arrested.
The poll found a stark party divide between support and opposition for the change in rule. Though just 35% of respondents supported ICE making arrests in churches, schools and hospitals, 68% of Republicans said they supported the rule. Thirteen percent of Democrats and 33% of independents said they agree with the change.
Fewer Republicans, 25%, oppose the rule while 79% of Democrats expressed opposition, the poll found. Fifty-seven percent of Independents oppose the rule.
Birthright citizenship
A lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union was in opposition to Trump’s executive order that challenged portions of the 14th Amendment.
Just 31% of Americans support ending the birthright citizenship rule, according to the poll.
Similar to views on ICE, public opinion about birthright citizenship is also drawn among party lines, the poll found.
Fifty-six percent of Republicans agreed with ending birthright citizenship, but only 11% of Democrats supported the idea. Thirty-one percent of independents expressed support.
In contrast, 78% of Democrats opposed ending birthright citizenship, and 33% of Republicans were against it, the poll found. Fifty-six percent of independents opposed ending birthright citizenship.
The NPR/Ipsos poll surveyed 1,013 American adults from Feb. 7-10. It had a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points.
This story was originally published February 14, 2025 at 2:32 PM with the headline "How do Americans feel about barring ICE from churches, schools? What new poll found."
