Stockton poll: 2 in 3 NJ voters say ICE goes too far

Matthew Fazelpoor//February 20, 2026//

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

PHOTO: DEPOSIT PHOTOS

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

PHOTO: DEPOSIT PHOTOS

Stockton poll: 2 in 3 NJ voters say ICE goes too far

Matthew Fazelpoor//February 20, 2026//

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A new from the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy finds that two-thirds of New Jersey voters believe efforts have gone too far.

The poll found 59% of respondents feel U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s deportation tactics make communities less safe. While 29% say the strategy has had the opposite effect. The center surveyed 700 registered voters Feb. 6–16 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.7 percentage points.

A majority (62%) disapprove of the ‘s approach to immigration, while 35% approve.

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The survey comes amid the hot-button debate over immigration policy, on the heels of two deaths in Minneapolis involving ICE agents as well as a number of dustups here in New Jersey, in towns such as Roxbury, Jersey City, Hoboken, Newark, Edison and more.

Key findings include:
  • 75% say immigration is a good thing for the country, including majority of all parties
  • 82% support creating more opportunities to legally immigrate, including majorities across parties
  • 76% say immigrants add useful skills and labor to the economy
  • 59% support restricting how state agencies and health facilities collect/share immigration status data
  • 58% say undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay legally if they meet certain requirements
    • 16% say without conditions
    • 22% say they should not stay legally
  • 61% say immigration has no effect on their job opportunities
    • 24% say it worsens them
    • 11% think it improves opportunities
  • 52% say immigration has no effect on crime
    • 29% say it worsens crime
  • 89% of Republicans approve of Trump’s immigration approach
    • 96% of Democrats disapprove
  • 78% of Republicans say ICE makes communities safer
    • 93% of Democrats say less safe
    • Independents fall between the two major parties, but majorities ranging from 56-63% align with Democrats
  • 48% support limiting state cooperation with ICE
    • 43% oppose
  • 54% support a new state portal (launched under Gov. Mikie Sherrill) for reporting federal immigration enforcement interactions
    • 38% oppose
  • 51% are confident Sherrill will enact immigration policies that align with their views
    • 40% are not confident

“While there is broad agreement in New Jersey that immigration contributes positively to the country and bipartisan support for expanding legal pathways, views on how immigration is enforced and the scope of those efforts remain highly polarized,” said Alyssa Maurice, assistant director and head of polling, Hughes Center. “Democrats and Republicans also have vastly different perceptions on the impact of immigration.”

The full poll results are available here.