From The Hill newspaper,
Most Americans say ICE has been too tough: Poll.
The poll cited by The Hill is from CBS News, who published the results under the headline,
CBS News poll finds more Americans say ICE being too tough; Republicans feel protesters have gone too far.
More interesting is the partisan breakdown in the poll, where independents lean a little bit toward the Republicans, at least on this question,
As CBS frames the first question, they report,
More Americans now describe ICE’s operations as too tough when stopping and detaining people.
The poll asked a question and gave three possible choices: “too tough,” “not tough enough,” or “about right.” 61 percent of respondents answered, “too tough.” Later, 53 percent say that ICE operarations should be “decreased.” Yet, somehow, 50 percent say they agree with Trump’s deportation goal. So, while it looks like a plurality say that they favor Trump’s goal, fewer say that they favor his methods. Do the ends justify the means?
Which, specific methods do they oppose? Which alternative methods would they favor? Opinion poll are useless in this regard.
What I really think is going on is that those on the fence about Trump and immigration like the results, but don’t like the negative headlines.
I have heard people that I believe are bona fide conservatives express the idea that tens of millions of illegal immigrants should be deported, but without any headlines. Just do the job and keep it quiet about it, lest you rouse the opposition.
But I’ve also heard from other conservatives, especially early on in Trump 2.0, that they were convinced that nothing was being done on immigration, because they weren’t seeing headlines (positive or negative). If it isn’t being done loudly and publicly, then it isn’t being done at all.
You can’t please everyone. But, in my opinion, the work must continue.
As I’ve documented in my Minnesota Men series, some individual illegal immigrants have committed horrific crimes during their stay with us, all of which could have been avoided with a secure border.
Collectively, the tens of millions of illegal immigrants in America have put pressure on labor and housing markers, strained the nation’s social safety net and the public school system, and eroded respect for the rule of law and the concept of personal responsibility.
To what net benefit for society? What do the rest of us get out of the deal?
I, for one, can’t afford the nuanced opinions and delicate sensibilities of my more liberal neighbors.
