Republicans Navigate Immigration Criticism Amid Growing Public Backlash

Wed Jan 28 2026 21:07:06 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As public anger surges over immigration enforcement operations, Republican lawmakers are balancing their messaging while avoiding direct criticism of President Trump. Amidst fatal incidents in Minneapolis, the party grapples with the impact of Trump's immigration policies ahead of midterm elections.

Republican lawmakers are beginning to separate from the Trump administration's immigration strategies, particularly following two fatal shootings in Minneapolis by federal agents. While expressing dissatisfaction towards agencies like ICE, many Republicans remain reluctant to directly criticize Trump's broader immigration agenda. This nuanced position highlights the party's struggle to maintain support for Trump's policies within their base, all while responding to rising public discontent. The response from Republican leaders underscores the political balancing act as they prepare for the upcoming midterm elections.

Republican lawmakers are starting to break with the Trump administration over its immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, as the party scrambles to respond to growing public anger after two US citizens were killed by federal agents.

But even as some Republicans in Washington speak out against the fatal shootings, they've avoided directly criticising President Donald Trump or his broader immigration agenda.

The emerging messaging on Minneapolis points to the party's main dilemma heading into the midterm elections: whether and how to distance itself from the biggest controversies of Trump's second term, while running on his overall record on immigration and other issues - a record that's popular on the right, and that most Republicans helped push through Congress.

So far, Republicans have focused criticism on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE - the agency at the forefront of the Minneapolis operation - and other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security taking part.

At the same time, Republicans have backed Trump's immigration plans since his return to the White House, but now avoid highlighting their support.

Last year, the Republican-controlled Congress approved roughly $45 billion for border security and additional funding for interior enforcement to help the administration carry out Trump's plan to deport millions of undocumented migrants from the country. That support continued as opinion polls have consistently shown a majority of Americans believe ICE has gone too far in its tactics under Trump.

The response to the fast-moving events in Minneapolis underscores the delicate balancing act as the party confronts the public's growing unease over immigration enforcement. Although some Republicans are calling for more oversight from ICE, Trump's immigration policies remain popular among a significant segment of the party's base.

Following the recent violent incidents, Republicans are faced with the challenge of addressing public outrage while still defending the administration's legacy on immigration policy. This intricate interplay will likely shape their strategies as the midterms approach, driving a need for careful communication and positioning among lawmakers.