Immigration backlash complicates Republicans' fight to hold Congress

President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown has become a political vulnerability ahead of the midterm elections, complicating Republican efforts to retain control of Congress. Polling shows voters disapprove of his immigration approach, even as he retains some backing for his management of the border. The backlash threatens to weaken an issue that helped propel him back to the White House two years ago.

During the 2024 campaign, Trump capitalized on concerns about rising illegal immigration under President Joe Biden. Arrests at the Mexican border reached a record 250,000 in December 2023. Trump also falsely linked immigrants to crime spikes and claimed they were eating household pets. Border turmoil subsided as Biden tightened enforcement and Trump subsequently imposed further restrictions, but confrontations surrounding deportation operations have brought unrest to American cities.

The administration has continued increasing arrests. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested almost 51,000 immigrants in the country illegally in August, compared with 49,000 in July and 43,000 in June. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that 660,000 people were deported during the past fiscal year, below the administration's annual target of 1 million. Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, praised the operations and argued that reducing illegal crossings had made the border crisis less politically visible.

Democrats initially showed some willingness to support tougher measures. Forty-six House Democrats and 12 Democratic senators backed the Laken Riley Act, which requires detention without bond for noncitizens accused of murder and other violent crimes. But the deportation of Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, despite a court order prohibiting it, helped galvanize opposition. After the Supreme Court directed the administration to facilitate his return, Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to meet him.

The largest turning point came in Minneapolis, where more than 2,000 federal officers were deployed and tens of thousands of people protested. Two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both 37, were killed during encounters with agents. In the following weeks, the White House sidelined Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Immigration arrests fell after the killings before eventually reaching record levels again.

Pretti's father, Michael, told reporters this week that the family remains troubled by bystander recordings of his son's death. Alex Pretti had a holstered firearm he could legally carry. None of the footage shows him displaying it threateningly or attacking federal agents immediately before he was killed.

Republican candidates have taken differing positions. Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn has promised more deportations in her campaign for governor. Florida Rep. Maria-Elena Salazar criticized the crackdown in an advertisement and sponsored legislation allowing immigrants without legal status to stay if they have otherwise obeyed the law. Colorado Rep. Gabe Evans is among its sponsors. Former New Hampshire Sen. John Sununu, seeking an open Senate seat, has criticized ICE tactics and agents' use of masks.

Trump continues to blame Democrats for allowing migrants across the border and warns they would do so again if they win the midterms. Other Republicans have connected immigration with economic concerns, including Ohio Sen. Jon Husted, who has attacked Democratic opponent Sherrod Brown over taxes and spending benefiting immigrants in the country illegally.

Democratic candidates, meanwhile, are increasingly combining criticism of Trump with support for border enforcement. Texas Senate candidate James Talarico advocates more Border Patrol officers and surveillance technology while faulting Biden's border record. Michigan candidate Abdul El-Sayed has also emphasized strong borders, reflecting a broader effort among Democrats to challenge the crackdown while supporting border security.