President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown has turned into a political backlash that could cost Republicans in the midterm elections, according to the Associated Press. Immigration helped return Trump to the White House in 2024. Two years later, the enforcement campaign itself has become a liability for his party.
Polling shows voters disapprove of the administration’s broader immigration approach, even though Trump retains some support for his handling of the border. The turning point came in Minneapolis, where federal agents killed two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during confrontations. Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets, and the White House later pushed aside Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The numbers behind the campaign are stark. The Department of Homeland Security said officers arrested almost 51,000 people in August. The Migration Policy Institute estimated 660,000 people were deported in the past fiscal year, below the administration’s annual goal of 1 million.
Republicans have split over how to respond. Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn, who is running for governor, has promised more deportations. Florida Representative Maria-Elena Salazar has criticised the crackdown in a campaign advertisement and sponsored legislation allowing immigrants in the country illegally to stay if they have otherwise followed the law.
Democrats have paired border security proposals with criticism of the enforcement tactics. In Texas, Senate candidate James Talarico has called for hiring more Border Patrol officers and expanding surveillance technology, while describing the administration’s policies as wasteful. With control of Congress at stake on Tuesday, both parties are now fighting over an issue that once looked like a clear Republican advantage.
Source: Associated Press
