Democrats are grappling with a political challenge that threatens to reshape their midterm strategy: how to respond aggressively to immigration enforcement operations they find alarming without appearing soft on immigration to voters who have historically trusted Republicans more on the issue.
The challenge emerged sharply after an immigration crackdown in Minnesota that included the fatal shooting of Renee Good, age 37, during a confrontation with federal agents. Administration officials said Good attempted to hit an agent with her car, an explanation that has been widely disputed based on videos circulating online.
The violence in Minneapolis has forced Democrats to move immigration closer to the center of their campaign planning, displacing their original focus on affordability and health care. The shift comes as the party prepares for 2026 midterm elections where it hopes to retake control of Congress and statehouses.
“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 Democratic strategist advising several House and Senate candidates on immigration this year.
Democratic Divisions on Enforcement
Some Democrats are pushing aggressive responses. Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said the party should campaign on “fairness and due process for all people,” framing these as rights being violated by immigration enforcement agencies.
Others in the party have proposed confrontational measures. Some have called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, echoing “defund the police” rhetoric that complicated Democratic politics in Trump’s first term. Others have called for impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over the enforcement operations.
Still others have introduced legislation intended to curb what they describe as abuses by federal agents, though activists have criticized these proposals as insufficient. Growing numbers of Democrats are discussing obstructing federal funding for deportations.
The Voter Trust Problem
The party’s internal divisions reflect a deeper political vulnerability. About 40 percent of Americans trust Republicans more to handle immigration, compared with about 30 percent who trust Democrats, according to a Washington Post/Ipsos poll from September. Republicans hold an even larger advantage on crime: about 44 percent of Americans think Republicans are better on the issue, compared with 22 percent for Democrats.
The polling gap explains Democrats’ political anxiety. Voters blamed President Joe Biden’s administration for border challenges that helped return Trump to office. Now, as the party responds to what it characterizes as excessive federal enforcement, it risks appearing to opponents as obstructing legitimate law enforcement.
Republicans are confident in their position. “If Democrats want to make 2026 a referendum on which party stands for strong immigration policies and protecting public safety, we will take that fight any day of the week,” said Republican National Committee spokeswoman Delanie Bomar.
Some Democrats are attempting to reframe the issue in economic terms. “I want everybody to understand, the cuts to your health care are what’s paying for ICE to be doing this,” New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said last week, linking immigration enforcement spending to reductions in social programs.
Trump Escalates Despite Declining Support
Yet Trump’s approval rating on immigration has declined sharply. His approval rating on the issue fell from 49 percent in March to 38 percent in January, according to AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research polling.
Juan Proaño, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest Hispanic civil rights group in the U.S., said the enforcement operations have cost Trump politically. “Republican members of Congress are really uncomfortable with these agencies and their existing tactics, because they know it’s going to hurt them back at home come election cycle,” he said.
Proaño noted that some prominent figures outside Democratic leadership have also expressed concern. Podcast host Joe Rogan, who has vocally supported Trump in the past, recently questioned the enforcement approach, asking: “Are we really going to be the Gestapo?”
Trump has shown no sign of scaling back operations. The administration has increased the number of federal agents deployed to Minnesota. The Justice Department issued subpoenas to Minnesota Democratic officials including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey as part of an investigation into whether they obstructed federal enforcement operations.
Seeking Common Ground
Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress and Biden’s former domestic policy adviser, said Democrats could appeal to voters by proposing a middle ground. “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 told the Associated Press. “This country has done that before, and it can do it again.”
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, who previously led the party in Minnesota, described the emotional weight of the moment. “There’s a lot of pain and anguish,” he said. “It’s heartbreaking. It’s chilling to think that this is the United States of America, what is supposed to be a beacon for democracy and freedom.”