JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Immigration enforcement remains a central divisive issue as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
So it’s not too surprising that respondents to a new poll from the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) were fairly evenly split when it came to opinions on federal and state immigration policies and border enforcement.
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For national immigration issues, a total of 49% of respondents -- who are all likely voters in 2026 -- said they disapprove of the way the Trump administration is handling immigration in the U.S., either strongly (41%) or somewhat (8%), while 48% percent said they strongly or somewhat approve.
A majority of respondents (55%) disapprove of the job Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is doing, with a total of 42% approving.
Also split were opinions on ICE, with 48% strongly disapproving.
While Trump’s overall favorability is highest among his 2024 voters, 9% of those who voted to return Trump to office expressed disapproval of his immigration policies, and 14% disapprove of ICE.
An even greater percentage of all Republicans in the sample (including those who did not report voting for Trump in 2024) expressed disapproval of the federal government’s handling of immigration, with 14% disapproving of the Trump Administration’s immigration policy and 19% disapproving of ICE.
More detention facilities in Florida?
Respondents were also asked whether they’re OK with more immigration detention facilities being built in Florida -- possibly in the panhandle and central Florida.
A majority of respondents (57%) expressed opposition, with 48% strongly opposed and 9% somewhat opposed.
Thirty-nine percent of respondents said they support building new facilities, either strongly (23%) or somewhat (16%). Support is highest among Republicans, with 71%, while 25% are opposed.
Seventy-six percent of 2024 Trump voters said they support building more ICE facilities in Florida, and 21% are opposed.
“Floridians seem more willing to direct their dissatisfaction with immigration policy to ICE than Trump,” said Dr. Sean Freeder, PORL director and UNF professor of political science. “Building detention facilities in Florida is particularly unpopular, which may give pause to state officials who wish to partner with the federal government in their efforts.”
Cuban-American support for Trump
Among respondents of Hispanic or Latino ethnic background, Cuban respondents tend to have greater support for Trump, his immigration policies, and ICE, compared to Hispanic and Latino respondents of other nationalities.
Overall, Trump’s favorability is 25 percentage points higher among Cubans than non-Cubans, and they differ on immigration policy and ICE favorability by 15 points and 22 points, respectively.
It should be noted that the subgroup of 41 respondents of Cuban descent is too small a sample size to make precise point estimates with certainty; however, large differences across groups can still be observed.
For more results from the poll, including choices in the 2026 midterm elections, see the poll below: