Democrats Grapple with Immigration Crisis Ahead of Midterms

Wed Jan 21 2026 09:39:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Democratic Party faces a strategic dilemma as it contends with a violent immigration crackdown, aligned with heightened discontent towards President Trump, in the lead-up to the midterm elections.

As immigration crackdowns intensify, particularly following a tragic incident in Minnesota, Democrats are reassessing their campaign strategies for the upcoming midterm elections. Activists and party leaders express a sense of urgency to address public outrage while reconciling differing views on immigration reform. With public trust wavering, Democrats are caught between emphasizing immigration issues and maintaining focus on traditional campaign messages like health care.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats had originally planned to run their midterm campaigns emphasizing affordability and health care, issues where many Americans express dissatisfaction towards President Donald Trump. However, a recent aggressive crackdown on immigration in Minnesota, which included the tragic shooting death of an American mother during a confrontation with federal agents, has completely redefined the party's approach.

In light of this crisis, Democrats are now attempting to channel widespread outrage into actionable political strategies, yet there is a lack of consensus on how best to proceed, especially on issues where trust for the party has recently diminished.

Some Democrats are advocating for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), reminiscent of the “defund the police” rhetoric from Trump’s initial administration. Others suggest introducing legislation aimed at moderating perceived abuses by federal agents; however, these proposals have faced criticism from activists for being inadequate. There is increasing pressure on the party to block funding for deportation efforts during ongoing budget discussions.

“We’re Democrats. I’m sure we’re going to have 50 different ideas and 50 different ways to say it,” said Chuck Rocha, a strategist assisting various House and Senate candidates on the immigration issue this year.

If Democrats fail to establish a coherent stance, they risk undermining their chances of retaking control of Congress and state legislatures, while also jeopardizing efforts to rebuild trust among voters who feel let down by border enforcement under President Biden, which many believe contributed to Trump’s return to power.

Neera Tanden, the president of the Center for American Progress and one of Biden’s former domestic policy advisors, believes it is possible for the party to balance demands for a secure border with respect for civil rights. “It’s not too much to ask that we have a government that can produce a secure border, that can deport people who are not legally here, and that can also respect people’s civil and human rights,” she said.

Recent violent incidents have sparked strong Democratic reactions. Renée Good, 37, was fatally shot by a federal agent in Minnesota earlier this month, resulting in protests and heightened tensions among local Democratic leaders. Accusations directed at Good, claiming she attempted to hit an agent with her vehicle, have been hotly contested following the release of video evidence. “I think the party is very unified in our disdain and concern regarding the actions certainly of DHS and ICE,” Representative Robert Garcia of California remarked. “We should campaign on fairness and due process for all people,” he asserted.

Conversely, an IPSOS/Washington Post poll revealed that approximately 40% of American adults trust Republicans over Democrats to handle immigration issues, emphasizing the ongoing challenges facing the Democratic Party in reestablishing their credibility on crucial topics. Republican figures remain confident that their messaging intertwining crime and immigration will resonate positively with midterm voters.

As these contentious immigration policies ripple through the political landscape, Democrats find themselves in turbulent waters attempting to align their core messages on economic and health care issues with the pressing demands of the current immigration crisis.