A focus group of Pennsylvania voters who switched from Biden to Trump in 2024 expressed mixed views on Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions following a fatal shooting in Minneapolis. Many criticized the agency for going too far, while others defended its role. Participants also urged President Trump to prioritize the U.S. economy over international affairs like Greenland and Venezuela.
In online focus groups conducted on Tuesday by Engagious and Sago as part of the Swing Voter Project, 14 Pennsylvania voters—seven Republicans, six independents, and one Democrat—who supported Joe Biden in 2020 and Donald Trump in 2024 shared their perspectives on Trump's first year back in office.
The discussions highlighted concerns over ICE operations, particularly after an agent shot and killed Renee Macklin Good on January 7 in Minneapolis. Most participants had viewed video of the incident. Eight voters felt ICE was "getting things about right" nationwide, while six said it had "gone too far," and none believed it had "not gone far enough."
Blame for the shooting was divided: four voters faulted Good, five pointed to the ICE agent, and four saw equal responsibility. Hassan C., a 39-year-old independent, blamed the agent, noting, "From what I saw in the video, she was trying to drive away and the ICE agent moved out of the way... He was no longer in harm's way."
Grace P., a 60-year-old Republican, who held both parties accountable, said, "These officers should be trained that you should never be shooting to kill." Kimberly K., a 46-year-old independent from Philadelphia with a family tie to law enforcement, supported ICE, stating, "I know that's a job that not everybody can do... a job needs to be done and they're doing it."
Only two voters blamed Trump directly, despite his deployment of federal agents to Minnesota. Rich Thau, Engagious president and moderator, observed "a lot of frustration with ICE and how ICE has been performing."
On foreign policy, all 14 opposed using force to acquire Greenland, amid Trump's recent threats, which he later softened by announcing a "framework" deal with European leaders. The U.S. military's seizure of Venezuela's leader also drew criticism. Voters expressed anxiety over Trump's international engagements, with Matt A., a 31-year-old Republican, saying, "The everyday, middle-class working person sometimes gets forgotten."
Jeremy F., a 39-year-old independent, added, "He ran very strongly opposing war... And now he's just going left and right and starting them." A majority wanted Trump to focus on economic issues affecting their "pocketbooks."
Overall, eight disapproved of Trump's performance but also called Democrats "weak" and "broken." These insights, though not statistically representative, reveal tensions among key swing voters.
