Immigration enforcement fears are changing US consumer behavior

Key takeaways

• 77% of Americans say they’ve heard about recent immigration enforcement actions, with 41% hearing “a lot.”
• More Americans say enforcement has made their communities less safe (32%) than safer (25%).
• One in six Americans say they’ve avoided public places due to immigration enforcement concerns—rising to over a quarter among Hispanic adults.
• Visits to bars, entertainment venues, and malls have declined, though most people cite cost and convenience over safety as the reason.
• Among those avoiding public spaces, one-third are spending more on delivery services compared to six months ago.

Immigration enforcement in the US has been highly visible this year. Nearly four in five Americans (77%) say they’ve heard at least a little about immigration enforcement activity in the past six months, including 41% who’ve heard “a lot.”

This heightened visibility isn’t just shaping public opinion; it’s affecting consumer behavior. A new survey from YouGov suggests that concerns about immigration enforcement is changing how often some consumers show up at public-facing businesses.

Behavioral Shifts: Who is changing and how?

One in six Americans (17%) say they’ve either frequently or occasionally avoided certain public areas or businesses because of immigration enforcement.

Hispanic Americans are nearly twice as likely as the general public to report avoiding these places, with 10% saying they do so frequently and 18% occasionally.

Political identity also plays a role: Democrats (25%) are much more likely than Republicans (14%) to report changing their public behavior due to enforcement concerns.

Foot traffic down, especially in nightlife and entertainment venues

When asked how their habits have changed in the past six months, many consumers report visiting public-facing businesses less frequently. Bars and nightclubs saw the largest reported decline, with 42% of those who visit such venues saying they now go out less often. Entertainment venues (37%), physical retail stores (34%), and restaurants and cafés (33%) also saw large drops among their clientele.

Essential retail locations such as grocery stores (15%) and drugstores or convenience stores (22%) were somewhat less affected, but a notable minority still reported fewer visits than earlier in the year.

Why Americans are going out less: ICE matters, but not as much as cost-of-living

The reasons behind this drop in foot traffic are complex and not entirely driven by immigration enforcement. Take the dip in visits to bars and nightclubs as an example.

Among the 42% of bar-goers who say they’ve reduced their visits, 12% cite concerns about safety due to immigration enforcement among their main reasons. While this is significant, far more point to the rising cost of living (49%) and lifestyle or convenience changes (45%).

This pattern holds across all categories, from restaurants to malls: immigration enforcement dissuades a small but significant portion of consumers, but cost and convenience are more common causes of reduced in-person commerce.

Delivery and digital alternatives continue to gain ground

While foot traffic declines, online and delivery services appear to be benefiting from enforcement fears. Among those who have avoided public areas or business due to enforcement concerns and who at least occasionally use delivery services, 34% say they’re now spending more than they were six months ago. This includes 14% who are spending “much more.”

In contrast, among those who have not changed their in-person habits, only 4% are spending much more, and 9% are spending a little more. A majority of this group (51%) say their delivery spending has stayed the same.

This data suggests that for a segment of consumers, avoidance of public places is directly linked to increased reliance on digital commerce.

Conclusion: A shifting consumer landscape

The visibility of immigration enforcement actions appears to be influencing how some Americans interact with public spaces, especially among groups more likely to feel directly impacted. But the broader story is one of layered pressures. Financial strain and lifestyle changes continue to play a defining role in shaping consumer behavior

Methodology

YouGov Surveys: Serviced provides quick survey results from nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. This study was conducted online on November 7, 2025, with a nationally representative sample of 2000 adults (aged 18+ years) in the US, using a questionnaire designed by YouGov. Data figures have been weighted by age, race, gender, education, and region to be representative of all adults in the US (18 years or older), and reflect the latest population estimates from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.