{"id":1401038,"date":"2026-01-29T07:11:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T12:11:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thenewsherald.com\/?p=1401038&preview=true&preview_id=1401038"},"modified":"2026-01-29T09:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T14:30:00","slug":"immigration-was-a-republican-strength-now-some-fear-its-slipping-away-before-the-midterms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thenewsherald.com\/2026\/01\/29\/immigration-was-a-republican-strength-now-some-fear-its-slipping-away-before-the-midterms\/","title":{"rendered":"Immigration was a Republican strength. Now some fear it\u2019s slipping away before the midterms"},"content":{"rendered":"

By MEG KINNARD and JOEY CAPPELLETTI The Associated Press<\/p>\n

WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 Republicans are increasingly concerned that immigration enforcement is becoming a political liability in the upcoming midterm elections after two people were killed by federal agents during President Donald Trump\u2019s crackdown in Minneapolis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Although few are willing to publicly break with the president, there has been a crescendo of criticism as Republicans nudge the White House to change course. A looming end-of-week funding deadline has brought the issue to a head in Congress, with Democrats vowing to block Homeland Security funding<\/a> without significant changes and Republicans struggling to find their footing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is about regaining the trust of the American people on this issue, and I really think we\u2019re losing on an issue that we should be winning on,\u201d Sen. Thom Tillis told reporters on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n

The North Carolina Republican is retiring at the end of his term, making him more willing to talk candidly than other members of his party who are reckoning with outrage over the Minneapolis deaths while also trying to avoid getting crosswise with Trump.<\/p>\n

But others are also speaking out after Alex Pretti<\/a>, 37, was killed Saturday, just weeks after Renee Good<\/a>, also 37, was fatally shot.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe administration has lost control of the narrative,\u201d said Jason Roe, a Republican strategist working on midterm campaigns. He said, \u201cWe can\u2019t get out from underneath what\u2019s happening in Minneapolis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Historically, the party in control of the White House loses ground in Congress during the midterms. Republicans have also struggled in elections without Trump on the ballot, a pattern that continued last year in New Jersey and Virginia.<\/p>\n

\u201cDemocrats are really, really mad and they cannot wait to go vote,\u201d said Roe. \u201cAnd I just am not seeing that in any polling I\u2019ve seen on the Republican side.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noem is a target of criticism<\/h4>\n

For Republicans uneasy with the administration\u2019s enforcement tactics but reluctant to criticize Trump directly, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem<\/a> has become the focal point for their anxiety.<\/p>\n