Tragedy Sparks Demands to Abolish ICE: Can GOP Hold the Line?

Americans woke up to a disturbing video and hard questions after the January 7, 2026, shooting in Minneapolis that left 37-year-old Renee Good dead, and a Quinnipiac poll released January 13 found a majority of voters say the killing was not justified. That blunt public reaction shows that when law enforcement actions are captured on camera, political and electoral consequences can follow fast and furious.

 Polling now shows the perception of Immigration and Customs Enforcement sliding badly, with YouGov and Economist findings reporting a steep fall in approval and a sharp rise in calls to abolish the agency after the incident. The political left and much of the corporate press are exploiting that drop to turn one tragedy into an argument for dismantling an agency that enforces the rule of law.

That swing in public sentiment is also layered on a long-standing partisan divide: Pew Research has documented how deeply polarized views of ICE already were, with Republicans overwhelmingly favorable and Democrats overwhelmingly unfavorable toward the agency. This means the battleground for persuading independents and suburban voters is narrower than most Republicans would like—and it can shift rapidly after a crisis.

Conservatives must be clear-eyed: ICE officers do a dangerous, necessary job protecting our borders and communities, and the GOP should not reflexively cower when critics shout. At the same time, defending law and order means demanding full accountability when force is used and guarding against any abuses that give the left easy political ammunition. This is governance, not blind loyalty.

The media circus and left-wing activism have turned a tragedy into a national referendum on tactics — not just policy — and polls show rising support for dramatic responses, including abolition in some surveys. The grassroots anger is real on both sides: Americans want secure borders and humane, lawful enforcement, and many object to masked, unidentifiable agents making arrests in public spaces. If Republicans can’t articulate that balance, independents will drift and the midterms will feel the cost.

So what should Republicans do between now and the ballots? Stand with law enforcement and border security loudly, but insist on transparent, local-inclusive investigations and reforms to tactics that shock public conscience. That posture is both principled and pragmatic: it undercuts the left’s narrative while reassuring swing voters that the GOP governs with accountability, not impunity.

Patriots who care about the rule of law must demand two things simultaneously — courage and conscience. The GOP will win elections by showing it can secure the homeland without ignoring legitimate public outrage, by speaking plainly to independent voters, and by refusing to let the corporate press define every story for them. Fail at that, and the political fallout from this moment will be the Democrats’ gift at the midterms.