Democrats’ longstanding struggle with messaging has come back to haunt them just as President Trump is intensifying his crackdown on illegal immigration — an effort some Democrats support. For the moment, the party is backed into a corner. Its leaders are reluctant to alienate centrist members voting with Republicans on bills making it easier to deport migrants charged with crimes. They also can’t deny that public opinion is shifting to the right and aligning with Trump on targeting criminals. They know missteps could blow their chances at retaking the House in the midterms, Politico reports. It’s a familiar dilemma at an unpredictable time. “What is the party’s message on immigration? There presently is not one,” says Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). The president and his party seized the trifecta of power in with the election promises of combating illegal immigration and reviving the economy — with many GOP candidates slamming government spending on immigrants without legal status. Democrats were more splintered in their priorities — with some casting trans rights and abortion access as top concerns. That has put the Democratic Party into a near-constant state of tortured deliberation on how to confront Trump 2.0, especially on border security.
Democrats have the beginnings of a game plan. It’s built around the expectation the president will expand his signature deportation blueprint to target immigrants with whom Americans can more readily sympathize.
“Dreamers, farm workers and families,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, previewing where Democrats will make their stand — if they can get on the same page with messaging. The discourse among New York’s congressional delegation is emblematic of a broader national debate among Democrats. Between the House and the Senate, 58 Democrats last week helped Republicans pass the Laken Riley Act, a win for Trump, who signed the bill Wednesday. The legislation, named for a Georgia nursing student killed by an undocumented immigrant, would mandate the detention of migrants charged with crimes ranging from minor theft to violent offenses. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, known for embracing the big-tent nature of his caucus, voted against the Laken Riley Act, but does not begrudge his members for breaking with party leaders. Since the start of Trump’s second presidency, federal immigration officers have arrested thousands of people, many wanted for violent crimes. In New York City, the biggest sanctuary city, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem led federal agents in an overnight raid. In Chicago, TV host Dr. Phil joined federal officers and White House border czar Tom Homan in what ICE described as “enhanced targeted operations."
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