WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 2, 2026) – Cygnal, one of the nation’s fastest growing and most accurate private polling firms, has released a new national survey showing a massive voter mandate for deportation and for Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enforce federal law – directly contradicting the media narrative and the Democratic Party’s stance on illegal immigration.
The national conversation pushed by Democrats and media outlets suggesting deportation is unpopular and wrong. Voters believe federal law should be enforced.
Key findings:
Defunding ICE is Politically Toxic
When voters are told Democrats want to defund ICE or even shut down the government to stop ICE from enforcing immigration law, the political fallout is immediate and severe:
The message is unmistakable: Democrats are far on one side of an issue where voters are in strong majorities on the other.
Americans Believe the Border Crisis Is Real…Except for Democrats
Across the electorate, illegal immigration is seen as a serious national problem…except among Democrats, who are the only group claiming it is “not a problem”:
Democrats stand alone in insisting otherwise.
Republicans Hold the High Ground
Republicans are positioned to gain voters – not lose them – by drawing a sharp contrast on immigration:
“Voters see illegal immigration as a simple question of law and order,” said pollster Brent Buchanan, CEO and Founder of Cygnal. “The data leaves no wiggle room. Americans want the law enforced, they want illegal immigrants removed, and they punish politicians who try to block ICE from doing its job.”
This probabilistic survey was conducted January 27–28, 2026, among n=1,004 likely 2026 midterm general election voters with a margin of error of ±3.09%. Known registered voters were interviewed via live phone and text‑to‑web. Results were weighted to a likely general election universe.
You can find the PDF deck here and the memo here.
X Article: Democrats Have an Deportation Problem. The Polling Is Brutal.
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Led by CEO and pollster Brent Buchanan, author of America’s Emotional Divide, Cygnal is an award-winning international public opinion and predictive analytics firm that has revolutionized the polling industry with multi-mode polling, message mapping, and emotional analytics. Recognized as the #1 private pollster by the Silver Bulletin and The New York Times, the firm boasts an impressive 95 percent accuracy rating in the 2024 election cycle. With experience in all 50 U.S. states and over 20 countries, Cygnal has strategically guided over 3,000 campaigns and conducted more than 4,500 polls. Its client roster includes high-profile figures such as Governors Greg Abbott and Brian Kemp, Senator Markwayne Mullin, along with numerous other Members of Congress, state legislators, caucuses, corporations, and trade associations, solidifying Cygnal as a clear leader in political polling and analytics.