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Trump supercharged ICE. Now battleground candidates look for a message
Los Angeles Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Democratic congressional candidates agree on securing the border but remain divided on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with some advocating abolition and others supporting reform.
- Republicans leverage former President Trump's hardline border policies to energize their base but face voter concerns over violence during immigration raids, leading some candidates to emphasize deporting criminals rather than mass deportations.
- Immigration remains an important but secondary issue to most voters compared to the cost of living, with about half viewing current immigration enforcement tactics as too aggressive.
- Democratic candidates like Abdul El-Sayed and James Talarico call for abolishing or significantly reforming ICE, while others, such as Randy Villegas, promote reform and a pathway to citizenship alongside border security.
- Some Republicans, including Rep. Monica De La Cruz and Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, are adopting more nuanced immigration messaging, distancing themselves from Trump’s approach to appeal to Latino and independent voters.
