Public support for the immigration crackdown has declined as most Americans say the tactics pursued by enforcement officers go too far
US President Donald Trump has signaled support for a proposal to rename Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), endorsing a suggestion shared on social media that would change the agency’s acronym to NICE.
The comment comes as the agency struggles with its public image in the wake of a sweeping immigration enforcement campaign that has led to thousands of arrests across the US. Public support for the crackdown has declined as most Americans say the tactics pursued by federal agents go too far, having turned violent and, in some cases, deadly.
Trump reposted a message on his Truth Social platform from a supporter suggesting that ICE be renamed “National Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” which would change the agency’s acronym to NICE. The change would compel media outlets to refer to federal officers as “NICE agents all day everyday,” framing the agency in more positive terms, the post added.
“GREAT IDEA!!! DO IT,” the president wrote in response to the post late Sunday.
The fatal shootings involving ICE agents in Minnesota have become a major flashpoint in the national debate over immigration enforcement following the Trump administration’s launch of a hardline agenda on immigration and election integrity. The incidents, which occurred during ICE operations, triggered widespread public outrage and sparked mass rallies across the country. Protesters have called for an end to aggressive enforcement tactics and demanded greater oversight of federal immigration authorities.
In February, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons stated that the agency is tracking about 1.6 million people in the US with final deportation orders, including around 800,000 who have criminal convictions.
Nevertheless, public support for the crackdown continued to decline, according to a recent Ipsos poll conducted at the time. About 58% of Americans say deportations are going too far, while 62% oppose ICE tactics.
