Over the last week, public sentiment solidified around President Trump's core instincts: aggressive federal action to deport criminal illegal aliens and override sanctuary obstruction. A plurality of voters agree that this is not just necessary, but a winning strategy.
EyesOver data shows no erosion in support for mass deportations or border security; if anything, approval ticked up amid the Minneapolis surge, with voters praising removals of "the worst of the worst" and fraud investigations in places like Minnesota.
One conservative X user summed it up bluntly, "Deport them all. Lock him up," in response to a video of a man with a rifle standing guard against ICE in St. Paul—framing local resistance as the real threat, not federal agents doing their job.
What changed was the Left's aggressive push to weaponize a single tragic incident—the January 7 shooting during an ICE operation—to smear enforcement as "overreach" and rally protests.
Video from multiple angles showed Renee Nicole Good's vehicle moving after she was told to stop, yet protesters and media quickly cast her as a martyr, chanting "Say Her Name! Renee Nicole Good!" at vigils while ignoring how sanctuary policies forced agents into street-level encounters instead of safe jail handoffs.
This alignment with Trump's decisive approach matters most because it reveals voter psychology: the GOP base sees through the noise. They back the mission to protect communities from threats hidden by sanctuary policies (like the billions in alleged welfare fraud tied to immigrant networks in Minnesota), and they're alert to how Democrats, media, and agitators twist isolated events to obstruct justice.
The data clusters on the ICE operation's success and the manufactured outrage around it, showing how opposition tactics backfire when voters prioritize security.
Primary Driver: Affirmation of Deportation Mission Amid Noise
The dominant shift was continued, and intensified, backing for enforcement execution, even as the Left amplified a disputed shooting of Good.
Reports highlight ICE arresting thousands of criminal aliens, uncovering billions in fraud, and protecting public safety; narratives that resonated.
Social media examples show voters defending agents: "FAFO," "they have every right," "deport them all," with frustration at sanctuary leaders (Walz/Frey) forcing street operations instead of jail handoffs. One X post captured the mood: "This is my neighborhood" from a liberal man with a rifle blocking ICE, prompting conservatives to reply, "Lock him up," and compare it to enabling criminals.
Intensity rose around defenses of the agent's actions in self-defense, countering video interpretations pushed by protesters and media. Driven by conservative voices and polls showing immigration favorability gains, this mattered more than last week because it shows resilience: voters reject the "martyr" framing of Good (portrayed as obstructing agents) and focus on results. Trump's vision (override blue-state resistance, remove threats) holds firm.
Secondary Reinforcement: Protests As Obstruction, Not Legitimate Dissent
Reinforcing this was the surge in protest coverage, but framed as interference with lawful duties rather than grassroots anger.
Data shows crowds blocking agents, clashing at facilities, and demanding impeachment/defunding—tactics that alienated far more than they persuaded.
One particularly telling clash saw ICE agents confronting a mob protecting a child sex offender from arrest, as violence escalated—proving once again that these "protests" shield the very threats enforcement targets, not innocent communities.
Pro-enforcement responses called out "insurrection" rhetoric from Miller and others, with promises to expose and prosecute obstructors. One viral clip showed protesters surrounding ICE vehicles in freezing rain, chanting against "ICE terror," while base users countered: "They're defending criminal illegal alien child sex predators."
Who's driving it? Left activists, sanctuary officials (Walz/Frey again), and MSM amplifying "occupation" claims. Compared to last week, this hardened base support: voters see protests as enabling criminals and have moved past the holding-power-accountable sentiment we saw last week.
It mattered because it tests and affirms Trump-aligned resolve to enforce without apology. As Townhall's Kurt Schlichter put it in a piece trending this week, backing off deportations is a recipe for GOP disaster; the base won't forgive weakness when the mission is this clear.
The EyesOver Indexes — This Week
Affordability Pressure Index (API): Stabilizing.
Fraud investigations in Minnesota (and expanding to other states) tied to immigration gained traction without broad economic backlash; no change, keeping focus on security gains.
Sovereignty & Security Index (SSI): Rising.
Defenses of deportations and agent actions dominated, with sanctuary obstruction as the real threat. Stronger than last week, as base language affirmed Trump's crackdown amid the noise.
Elite Distrust Index (EDI): Stable to modest rise.
Targeted at DOJ hesitation and blue state leaders, not the mission; up slightly from execution critiques, but tied to opposition tactics rather than policy doubt.
Closing Diagnostic
For 2026 campaigns, this past week's data confirms that leaning into Trump's enforcement vision delivers: voters reward results over manufactured crises.
Last week showed how the media can first frame an event (and define it), while this week shows what happens when the public learns the truth behind the story—like the contrast between a GoFundMe for the ICE agent raising over a million dollars in days versus protester vigils turning into clashes.
Even Fox segments on the Minnesota ops are calling out the spin, showing how quickly the narrative unravels when the truth emerges.
The unresolved tension: how leftist obstruction and media spin exploit isolated incidents to slow momentum, even as core support strengthens. Weekly observation like this builds the advantage; sentiment rewards clarity when tracked closely. That'sthe goal of this column—even when it may not be popular.