Republicans Are Increasingly Concerned About Trump’s Deportation Campaign. A Recent Poll Shows They Have Reason To Be…
A slim majority of voters still support Trump’s deportation agenda, but the Republican Party’s base is divided over the tactics, according to a recent Politico opinion poll. President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign is beginning to unsettle some Republicans.
As the midterm elections approach, Republican lawmakers, candidates, strategists, and individuals close to the White House are warning that the administration’s mass deportation policy — along with the intense media coverage of enforcement operations, the arrests of U.S. citizens, and clashes between protesters and federal officials — could cost them their fragile majority in the House of Representatives.
The Stakes — Undecided Voters
The administration’s forceful approach across the United States risks alienating the undecided voters who helped fuel Trump’s return to the White House but who are increasingly skeptical about how the president is delivering on a central campaign promise.
The issue is further complicated by divisions within the Republican Party over how best to address the erosion of support. Some members believe it is a messaging problem, while others argue that the administration’s policy itself is what is fueling voter concerns.
“If we don’t change our approach, this will certainly have a negative impact on the midterm elections,” said Representative Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), who recently decided not to seek another term.
The Poll
A new Politico poll highlights these concerns: Nearly half of Americans — 49% — believe Trump’s mass deportation campaign is too aggressive, including 1 in 5 voters who supported the president in 2024.
As a sign of growing discomfort within the president’s base, more than 1 in 3 Trump voters say that while they support the goals of his mass deportation campaign, they disagree with how it is being carried out.
The president campaigned on a promise to remove millions of immigrants living in the country illegally, linking former President Joe Biden’s border crisis to violent crime affecting American cities. The White House has pressured immigration officials to meet the president’s target — an effort that requires going beyond targeting violent criminals.
However, Americans generally do not support such a sweeping approach. In the poll, 38% of Americans said the federal government should prioritize deporting immigrants who have committed serious crimes, while 21% said the administration should deport only serious offenders.
The poll was conducted from January 16–19, following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. On Saturday, another shooting involving a federal officer occurred in Minneapolis, in which a 37-year-old white American citizen was also fatally shot.
The White House’s Position
A White House spokesperson stated that the president’s mass deportation agenda was a central campaign promise and argued that the administration’s enforcement efforts — and its messaging — have focused and will continue to focus on “the worst of the worst,” including individuals convicted of assault, rape, and murder.
The official said the administration will not allow criminals to remain free in cities where “Democrats refuse to cooperate with us,” adding that “there wouldn’t be such a large ICE presence if we had cooperation.”
It remains to be seen whether the administration’s messaging will be enough to ease concerns within the party. While many Republicans remain confident that they are still viewed as more trustworthy on immigration and border security — and that Democrats will ultimately be seen as too extreme in their response — others warn that Trump’s base will not be the voters who decide the 2026 elections.
Immigration Is Not Among Voters’ Top Concerns
According to the Politico poll, immigration still ranks well below economic concerns for voters. When asked to select the top three issues facing the country, only 21% mentioned illegal immigration, compared to half who cited the cost of living.
Yet as the White House continues to prioritize immigration politically, crucial segments of undecided voters and moderate Trump supporters are expressing dissatisfaction with some of the administration’s tactics.
