"Four voters identified themselves as Democrats, three as Republicans and seven as independents. Twelve of the 14 participants said they felt Immigration and Customs Enforcement "has gone too far" in carrying out its operations. And nine participants said they know someone who has changed their daily life out of concern for a possible interaction with ICE."
"Some said ICE's presence in the border state had begun to directly affect them, as well. Reflecting on recent immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, where two U.S. citizens have been fatally shot by federal agents, various focus group participants described ICE actions as "aggressive," "out of control" and said they worried the country was becoming a "police state.""
"Rich Thau, who moderated the focus groups, said the economy remains a top concern for these swing voters, but immigration has become "a more pressing and more urgent concern." "They want ICE to protect them, but they don't want ICE to be doing it the way they're doing it now," he said, "which is way too present in their lives, way too present in their family and friends' lives.""
Fourteen Arizona voters who supported Biden in 2020 and shifted to Trump in 2024 participated in two online focus groups. Twelve participants said Immigration and Customs Enforcement has gone too far in its operations, and nine said they know someone who altered daily routines out of concern for a possible ICE interaction. Several participants reported ICE's presence in the border state beginning to directly affect them. Participants described recent enforcement actions, including fatal shootings, as aggressive and out of control, and expressed fears of a growing police-state atmosphere. The economy remains a top concern, but immigration has become more pressing; respondents said they want protection without the current tactics.
Read at www.npr.org
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