Republicans fear their midterm chances are slipping away over immigration chaos
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are increasingly concerned that immigration enforcement will become a political liability in the upcoming midterm elections after two people were killed by federal agents during President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. crackdown in minneapolis.
Although few are willing to openly break ties with the president, criticism has increased as Republicans push the White House to change course. The looming deadline for weekend funding brought the issue to a head in Congress, with Democrats weighing in on the issue. Block Homeland Security funding There have been no significant changes, and Republicans are having a hard time gaining ground.
“This is about regaining the trust of the American people on this issue, and I think we’re losing on an issue that we really should be winning on,” Sen. Thom Tillis told reporters on Capitol Hill.
The North Carolina Republican is retiring at the end of his term, making him more willing to speak candidly than other members of his party who have reckoned with outrage over the deaths in Minneapolis while also trying to avoid running afoul of Trump.
But others also talk later Alex is beautifulThe 37-year-old was killed just a few weeks later on Saturday Renee Goodalso aged 37, was fatally shot.
“The administration has lost control of the narrative,” said Jason Roe, a Republican strategist who has worked on midterm campaigns. “We can’t get over what’s going on in Minneapolis,” he said.
The party that has historically controlled the White House is losing ground in Congress in the midterm elections. Republicans also struggled in elections where Trump was not on the ballot, a pattern that continued last year in New Jersey and Virginia.
“Democrats are really angry and can’t wait to vote,” Roe said. “And I don’t see that in any polls I’ve seen on the Republican side.”
Noem comes under fire
For Republicans upset with the administration’s enforcement tactics but reluctant to criticize Trump directly, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem became the focus of their concerns.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who said Noem should resign, said: “I think right now, you have a secretary who should be responsible for the chaos and some of the tragedies that we’ve seen.” “We need openness and accountability for the chaos and tragedy we are seeing,” he added.
Trump said Noem “did a very good job” and would remain in his administration. Democrats have said he should be removed from office, even though Republicans have a majority but do not have the clout necessary to pull it off on Capitol Hill.
Immigration has been one of Trump’s top issues, and voters were much more likely to accept Trump’s hardline stance in 2024 than in previous campaigns. Republicans overwhelmingly support his work on immigration, according to a report Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research Survey conducted in January.
Tillis, who called for Noem to be replaced, said the president was jeopardizing that.
“He won with a strong message on immigration,” Tillis said. “And now nobody’s talking about it. They’re not talking about securing the border. They’re talking about the incompetence of the Homeland Security leader.”
Concerns have spread to Maine, home to one of the nation’s most competitive Senate races. Sen. Susan Collins, who is running for re-election, said Tuesday that she wants the administration to halt the increase in immigration enforcement operations in her state and Minnesota.
Republicans use government funding to express pushback
Lawmakers are using the Jan. 31 deadline to pass government funding legislation as a pressure tactic to make changes. Trump has already signed into law six of 12 annual spending bills for the current budget year, but six more, including Homeland Security funding, are awaiting approval in the Senate.
A growing number of Senate Republicans have said they would be open to Democrats’ request to separate Homeland Security funding from the broader package for further debate and would advance remaining bills as well.
Other Republicans took a more cautious tone. While first-term Sen. Ted Budd of North Carolina supported Trump’s immigration goals on social media, he said he was hopeful the president’s decision to reshuffle personnel in Minnesota would lead to “orderly and systematic operations” focused on the most dangerous criminals.
Following Pretti’s death on Saturday, there was a noticeable change in tone at the top level. In an interview late Tuesday, the president told ABC News he hopes Tom Homan, the border czar who replaces the Border Patrol this week, will be there. Gregory Bovino As the person on the ground, he would allow for a “slightly more relaxed” and “de-escalated” operation in Minneapolis.
But when Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he wanted Homeland Security to end its operations “as quickly as possible,” Trump reacted angrily and posted on social media that the mayor was “playing with fire.”
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Kinnard reported from Columbia, S.C. and can be reached at: http://x.com/MegKinnardAP
