It’s an evolution that is far from being supported by its base. According to the information from the Wall Street Journal, American President Donald Trump has asked his advisors to reconsider the way his flagship promise of “mass deportation” of migrants in irregular situations is implemented and presented. Feeling that this expression was poorly received by some of his supporters, the leader now wants to focus more on the arrest of criminals rather than on spectacular operations causing disorder in cities, like the one in Minneapolis.
This desire to adjust the migration policy is partly driven by his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, who believes that the current management of immigration has turned a strong presidential theme into a politically sensitive issue approaching the midterm elections. The “border tsar,” Tom Homan, has also replaced the head of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bureau (CBP), Greg Bovino, in Minneapolis. Considered a relatively moderate voice on these issues, the latter has been favoring more conventional interventions since taking office, targeting individuals who have committed offenses, especially those transferred by local prisons. As a result, the pace of arrests has slightly decreased, dropping to about 1,200 per day, compared to over 1,500 during intensive operations previously conducted in Minnesota.
A pro-deportation coalition
“There is no change in the underlying immigration policy. President Trump’s priority remains the expulsion of foreigners in irregular situations who pose a danger to Americans,” stated White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson. However, President Donald Trump’s closest allies strongly criticize what they see as a U-turn. A new “pro-deportation” coalition, consisting of pro-Trump figures, organizations, and experts in favor of strict migration policies, has been formed, with the goal of pushing the executive to resume a policy of mass deportations targeting all deportable migrants.
To support this strategy, the group relies on a survey conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, an institute close to Trump, which shows that a majority of voters support these measures and see them as an electoral lever for Republicans. The results suggest that about two-thirds of potential voters approve of deporting anyone who entered the country illegally, and a majority supports the idea of expanding deportations beyond just criminals, according to Politico. From this perspective, solely targeting violent criminals is seen by this coalition as a strategic mistake already attempted under other administrations, including those of Barack Obama, and deemed ineffective. “To mobilize their base, Republicans must continue to emphasize Donald Trump’s promises, especially that of mass deportations,” said Rosemary Jenks, co-founder of a conservative immigration-focused group quoted by the Wall Street Journal.
A policy deemed too harsh
Conversely, other surveys, upon which proponents of the new strategy rely, paint a more nuanced picture of public opinion. A Washington Post/ABC News poll revealed that 58% of respondents now believe Donald Trump is going too far, compared to 48% a few months earlier. A significant portion of Americans also view current policies as too harsh, and some Republican elected officials, particularly among Hispanics, fear that this toughness may alienate voters who supported Donald Trump. House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged “tensions” and mentioned an ongoing adjustment.
From the Democrats and immigration advocates’ perspective, skepticism remains nonetheless. They doubt a real change as long as certain influential figures, like Stephen Miller, one of the main architects of the Trump administration’s hardline immigration stance, still hold sway.
