Trump Immigration Approval Hits Second-Term Low Following Minneapolis Shooting
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new Reuters/Ipsos poll released today reveals that President Trump’s approval rating on immigration has plummeted to its lowest level since he returned to the White House last year. The data suggests that the administration’s aggressive "Operation Metro Surge" is losing public support following the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.
The Numbers: A Significant Slide
According to the poll conducted between Friday and Sunday, only 39% of Americans now approve of the President’s handling of immigration, a drop from 41% earlier this month and a stark decline from the 50% approval recorded in February 2025.
The survey highlights a growing discomfort with the tactics used by federal law enforcement:
"Gone Too Far": A majority of respondents (58%) believe that ICE and Border Patrol agents have gone "too far" in their recent crackdowns.
Overall Approval: The President’s general job approval has sunk to 38%, tying the lowest level of his current term.
The Independent Shift: Crucially, support among independent voters has eroded significantly, with 60% expressing disapproval of the current immigration strategy.
The "Minneapolis Effect"
The polling period captured the immediate aftermath of the Saturday morning shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse and lawful gun owner. Pretti was the second U.S. citizen killed by federal agents in Minneapolis this January, following the death of Renée Good on January 7.
Political analysts suggest that while the American public remains divided on immigration policy, the "heavy-handedness" and "militarized tactics" seen in viral videos from Minneapolis are alienating even some of the President's core supporters.
White House Reaction
In response to the sliding numbers and mounting pressure, the White House has begun to shift its tone. On Monday, President Trump struck a more conciliatory note, announcing that his top border enforcer, Tom Homan, would be dispatched to Minneapolis to personally oversee operations.
"Nobody in the White House, including President Trump, wants to see people getting hurt or killed," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, a notable departure from the "domestic terrorist" label initially used by administration officials to describe Pretti.
