Should ICE, immigration enforcement, be reformed in Alabama? Here’s what you said
An increasing number of Americans, including Alabama residents, think U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement needs some reform.
While Alabamians remain broadly supportive of President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda and ICE, 58% of respondents to a recent survey said they think immigration enforcement is going “too far.”
“We do have to have immigration officers,” Moore said. “But I don’t think anyone should be abused or murdered by law enforcement.”
A substantial share of Alabama respondents said they think immigration enforcement has not gone far enough.
Most respondents did not agree with popular protest slogans like “abolish ICE.” When asked to describe their feelings about the agency,
- 36% of AL.com respondents said they thought the agency was high-performing,
- 25% said they thought the agency was important but needed reform, and
- 39% said they thought the agency should be defunded and abolished.
Benjamin Bates, 62, who lives in Mobile, Alabama, said enforcement in his city is often “up close and personal.” Local officers in south Alabama are working closely with the feds to detain and transport people.
“This isn’t about protecting the border,” he said. “They no longer have any boundaries of what they’re willing to do. It’s frightening.”
The findings come from two surveys conducted by Advance Local Media in January 2026 across news outlets in Alabama, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.
The second survey was conducted after the Jan. 24 shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, and found an increasing share of responses from people who believe ICE should be reformed.
Agents in Alabama arrested at least 5,746 people on immigration-related issues in the first 9 months of 2025, according to federal data. Some have criminal records, but many criminal convictions are for things like traffic stops, and many people have no prior record at all, AL.com found.
Congress is discussing funding for ICE and the Department of Homeland Security ahead of a Feb. 13 deadline.
Sen. Katie Britt, R-AL, is spearheading GOP discussions as part of the appropriations committee.
“Senator Britt’s support for federal law enforcement remains unwavering,” her office told AL.com Thursday, noting her support for proposed legislation that would give ICE agents body cameras and additional training.
“Senator Britt is committed to finding a pathway forward, but that means Democrats need to start having conversations if they are actually interested in working in good faith,” staff said.
Findings come from 58,103 responses from the online surveys conducted across 11 news outlets in eight states.
The two surveys are not statistically balanced or representative.