A new survey sponsored by RealClear Opinion Research measures Pennsylvania residents’ attitudes toward immigration policy and perceptions in the Keystone State. The survey was conducted February 10-13, 2026. The sample of Pennsylvania residents, n=2,000, has a credibility interval, similar to a poll’s margin of error (MOE), of +/- 2 percentage points.
Pennsylvanians are generally supportive of several policy proposals regarding ICE agents. The survey finds:
- 86% support requiring ICE to wear body cameras, 9% oppose, 6% unsure
- 66% support allowing residents to sue the federal government if ICE violates constitutional rights, 24% oppose, 10% unsure
- 58% support prohibiting ICE from making arrests on state property, 32% oppose, 9% unsure
- 53% support prohibiting ICE agents from wearing masks while operating, 37% oppose, 10% unsure
A plurality of residents (45%) oppose eliminating ICE, while 36% favor its elimination, and 18% are unsure. Sentiment varies by party: 58% of Democrats favor eliminating ICE, while a majority of Republicans (69%) and a plurality of independents (46%) oppose.
Overall, 58% think efforts by ICE officers to deal with unauthorized immigration in the country have gone too far, 17% think they have not gone far enough, and 25% think efforts are about right. Residents’ perception of ICE varies by news platform:
Pennsylvanians report their top sources of news about immigration include social media (27%), cable/network news (21%), local TV (17%), and print/online news (10%). Among those getting news from cable/network, the top sources are Fox News (36%), CNN (19%), MSNow (13%) and ABC News (10%). Among those getting news from print/online, the top sources are the New York Times (25%), CNN (7%), the Associated Press (6%) and news aggregators (6%).
- Of those getting immigration news from Fox News, 67% think ICE actions are about right, compared to 85% of those getting news from CNN who think they have gone too far.
A plurality of Pennsylvanians (46%) say immigrants have made a positive impact on their community, 28% say they have made a negative impact; 26% say immigrants make no impact.
- A majority of Democrats (72%) and a plurality of independents (44%) think immigrants have made a positive impact on their community, while a plurality of Republicans (41%) think they have had a negative impact.
Respondents were asked which of the following statements comes closer to their views about Congressional approval of a funding package that includes funds for the Department of Homeland Security:
- “There needs to be reforms made on how ICE conducts their operations, even if it temporarily shuts down the government”- 46%
- “Funding for the Department of Homeland Security should be approved to keep the government operating” – 39%
- 14% unsure
Residents are split on whether local police in their community should always cooperate or should cooperate in some cases with federal immigration authorities to deport people who are in the country illegally: 37% think they should always cooperate, 37% think they should cooperate in some cases, and 16% think they should never cooperate.
Just over half of Pennsylvania residents (53%) think E-Verify, the federal government’s program that allows enrolled employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States, is a good thing for the state, while 12% think it is a bad thing and 35% are unsure.
A majority (55%) are concerned about immigration-related arrests in their area, 45% are not concerned. 64% of Hispanic residents expressed concern, compared to 52% of white residents.
- Concern about immigration-related arrests in their area is highest in Southeast PA at 62% concerned and lowest in North Central at 43%.
A plurality of Pennsylvanians, 42%, think Kristi Noem should resign as Secretary of Homeland Security, while 29% do not think she should resign and 29% are unsure.
A majority of Pennsylvanians (86%) do not personally know someone who has been deported or detained by the U.S. federal government for immigration reasons in the last 12 months, while 14% do.
A majority of respondents, 53%, think it is harder for legislators in Pennsylvania to pass bipartisan legislation now than it was a few years ago. Forty percent think it is about the same as a few years ago, while 8% think it is easier.
Pennsylvania Statewide Official Job Approvals
Governor Josh Shapiro holds a 47% job approval rating among Pennsylvania residents and 23% disapproval. Senator David McCormick holds a 30% approval rating among residents and 29% disapproval. Senator John Fetterman holds a 38% approval rating and 32% disapproval.
Methodology
The RealClear Opinion Research survey was conducted February 9-12, 2026. Data collected by Emerson College Polling. The sample of Pennsylvania adults, n=2000, has a credibility interval, similar to a poll’s margin of error (MOE), of +/- 2 percentage points. The data sets were weighted by gender, education, race, and age based on US Census parameters.
Data was collected by contacting a probability-based panel of residents in Pennsylvania provided by Commonwealth Opinions using MMS-to-web and email, with additional panel interviews provided by PureSpectrum.
It is important to remember that subsets based on demographics, such as gender, age, education, and race/ethnicity, carry with them higher credibility intervals, as the sample size is reduced. Survey results should be understood within the poll’s range of scores, and with a confidence interval of 95% a poll will fall outside the range of scores 1 in 20 times.
