Staff ReportsThe latest Economist/YouGov poll gives the Biden administration — sorry, the current administration — a tidy talking point: most Americans want noncitizens who are convicted of serious crimes removed from the country. The Department of Homeland Security has been happy to pair that polling number with a steady drumbeat of ICE arrests and blunt language from Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. If you like political theater dressed up as policy, this is peak season.
What the poll actually found
The Economist/YouGov weekly poll, fielded April 10–13, 2026, asked Americans which types of illegal immigrants should be deported. The standout result: 60% of respondents selected “people convicted of serious crimes.” The survey sampled 1,748 adults (1,573 registered voters) with a margin of error of about ±3.1%. By contrast, only 29% said “all illegal immigrants should be deported,” and tiny shares picked long-term noncriminal residents, children who came as kids, or spouses of U.S. citizens. In short, the public wants targeted enforcement, not a blanket policy that would be both cruel and politically foolish.
Why DHS is waving the poll like a trophy
DHS has not been bashful about using the poll to justify interior enforcement. The department has highlighted recent ICE arrests and quoted Secretary Mullin calling some arrestees “truly sick individuals,” while pointing out that “nearly 70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S.” That message is simple: voters back deporting criminals, so federal agents should keep making arrests. For the political class, that’s a neat one-two punch — show scary criminals, then show a poll saying people want them removed.
Reality checks: law, definitions, and public nuance
But the policy side is messier than the press release. U.S. immigration law already allows removal for many criminal convictions, but who gets prioritized depends on agency guidance, court rulings, and local policies like sanctuary practices. “Serious” can mean different things in different contexts, and courts regularly argue over whether a conviction triggers removal. Also worth remembering: other research shows public views soften when real human stories come into play — people sympathize with long-time residents or those brought to the U.S. as children. Numbers are useful, but they don’t replace careful law and fair process.
Still, the poll is politically powerful. It hands the administration a tidy line to defend stepped-up ICE operations and to pressure lawmakers to fund enforcement. Conservatives should applaud a focus on criminal offenders, while reminding skeptics that enforcement must be consistent, legal, and smart — not simply showboating for headlines. If Washington wants public buy-in for enforcement, then use common sense: prioritize dangerous criminals, respect due process, and stop pretending every illegal border crossing is the same as murder or rape. Voters get that distinction. Lawmakers would do well to remember it.
