Anna Hartz
Immigration has long been one of the most emotional issues in American politics. It shapes elections, fuels protests, and often divides parties from within.
As President Donald Trump pushes forward with his deportation plans, that familiar tension is rising again inside the Republican Party.
Growing Unease Among Republicans
A slim majority of voters still support Trump’s deportation agenda, but a new Politico poll shows growing unease about how it is being carried out, reports Digi24. The concern is not limited to Democrats. It is also spreading among Republicans as the midterm elections draw closer. Lawmakers, campaign strategists, and White House insiders worry that the scale and visibility of the deportation campaign could threaten the party’s narrow control of the House.
The administration’s aggressive enforcement strategy has drawn intense media attention. Images of immigration raids, arrests involving U.S. citizens, and confrontations between protesters and federal agents have become common. Some Republicans fear this approach could push away undecided voters. Those voters played a key role in Trump’s return to the White House but are now questioning his methods.
Republicans disagree on how serious the problem is. Some believe the issue is poor messaging and say the administration needs to better explain its goals. Others argue the policies themselves are causing voter anxiety. Representative Dan Newhouse of Washington, who is not seeking re election, warned that the current strategy could hurt the party in 2026.
Too Aggressive
The Politico poll reflects this discomfort. Forty nine percent of Americans say the deportation campaign is too aggressive. That includes one in five voters who supported Trump in 2024. More than one third of Trump voters say they support deportation in principle but oppose how it is being done.
Trump promised to remove millions of undocumented immigrants and tied immigration to violent crime. To meet those goals, immigration officials have been pushed to go beyond targeting serious offenders. Public opinion does not fully support that approach. Thirty eight percent of Americans want deportations to focus on immigrants who committed serious crimes. Twenty one percent want only serious criminals targeted.
A White House spokesperson defended the policy and said enforcement remains focused on violent offenders. The official also blamed Democratic leaders for refusing to cooperate with federal agents.
Immigration is not the top issue for most voters. The poll shows that cost of living concerns rank much higher. Still, as the White House keeps immigration at the center of its agenda, discomfort among moderate voters continues to grow.
Sources: Politico, Digi24
