Immigration helped Trump win in 2024. Now it may be hurting Republicans.

Immigration has emerged as a recurring political fault line in the United States, playing a significant role in both Donald Trump's 2024 victory and the Republican Party's losses in the 2026 midterm elections.
In 2024, frustration over illegal immigration and border security helped Republicans regain the White House after years of criticism directed at the Biden administration.
Two years later, the political debate has shifted from border crossings to immigration enforcement.
Trump's aggressive deportation campaign and the tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have drawn criticism, including from voters who previously supported stronger border controls.
The backlash may have contributed to Democratic gains in Congress, although polling suggests immigration was not the decisive issue for most voters.
A Reuters/Ipsos survey ahead of the election found that 48% of registered voters identified the cost of living as their top concern, compared with 13% who cited immigration.
The results illustrate how an issue that helped one party win power can become a political liability when voters grow dissatisfied with how its policies are implemented.
Economic concerns, inflation and broader dissatisfaction with the administration also played major roles in the election outcome.
Source: Reuters, Reuters/Ipsos, CBS News (November 2026)