WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� 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鈥檚 .
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 without significant changes and Republicans struggling to find their footing.
鈥淭his is about regaining the trust of the American people on this issue, and I really think we鈥檙e losing on an issue that we should be winning on,鈥� Sen. Thom Tillis told reporters on Capitol Hill.
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.
But others are also speaking out after , 37, was killed Saturday, just weeks after , also 37, was fatally shot.
鈥淭he administration has lost control of the narrative,鈥� said Jason Roe, a Republican strategist working on midterm campaigns. He said, “We can鈥檛 get out from underneath what鈥檚 happening in Minneapolis.鈥�
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.
鈥淒emocrats are really, really mad and they cannot wait to go vote,鈥� said Roe. 鈥淎nd I just am not seeing that in any polling I鈥檝e seen on the Republican side.鈥�
Noem is a target of criticism
For Republicans uneasy with the administration鈥檚 enforcement tactics but reluctant to criticize Trump directly, has become the focal point for their anxiety.
鈥淚 think you have a secretary right now that needs to be accountable to the chaos and some of the tragedy that we have seen,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who said Noem should step down. She added that “we need clarity and accountability for the chaos and tragedy we have seen.鈥�
Trump has said Noem is 鈥渄oing a very good job鈥� and would remain in his administration. Democrats said she should be impeached, although they lack the necessary clout on Capitol Hill to achieve that while Republicans have the majority.
Immigration has been one of Trump’s signature issues, and voters were even more likely to accept his hardline stance in 2024 than they were in previous campaigns. Republicans remain overwhelmingly supportive of his work on immigration, according to a survey conducted in January.
Tillis, who has also called for Noem to be replaced, said the president is jeopardizing that.
鈥淗e won on a strong message about immigration,鈥� Tillis said. 鈥淎nd now nobody鈥檚 talking about that. They鈥檙e not talking about securing the border. They鈥檙e talking about the incompetence of the leader of Homeland Security.鈥�
The concerns have spilled into Maine, home to one of the nation鈥檚 most competitive Senate races. Sen. Susan Collins, who is up for reelection, said Tuesday that she had asked the administration to pause the surge of immigration enforcement operations in her state and Minnesota.
Republicans use government funding to express pushback
Lawmakers are using the Jan. 31 deadline for passing government funding legislation as a pressure tactic to inflict change. Trump has already signed into law six of the 12 annual spending bills for the current budget year, but six more still await approval in the Senate, including funding for Homeland Security.
A growing number of Senate Republicans have said they would be open to Democrats鈥� demand to separate Homeland Security funding from the broader package for further debate, while advancing the remaining bills.
Other Republicans have struck a more cautious tone. First-term Sen. Ted Budd of North Carolina said on social media that while he supports Trump鈥檚 immigration goals, he was hopeful that the president’s decision to reshuffle personnel in Minnesota would lead to 鈥渙rderly and systematic operations鈥� focused on the most dangerous offenders.
There’s been a noticeable tone shift at the top following Pretti’s death Saturday. In an interview late Tuesday, the president told ABC News that he hoped the presence of border czar Tom Homan 鈥� who this week replaced the Border Patrol’s as his on-the-ground point person 鈥� would allow for 鈥渁 little bit more relaxed鈥� and 鈥渄e-escalated鈥� operation in Minneapolis.
But Trump reacted angrily when Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he wanted Homeland Security to end its operation 鈥渁s quickly as possible,” posting on social media that the mayor was 鈥淧LAYING WITH FIRE.”
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Kinnard reported from Columbia, S.C., and can be reached at
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