United States: Donald Trump revises his immigration strategy and attracts criticism from his camp

President Donald Trump has asked his advisers to review the way his key promise of “mass deportation” of undocumented migrants is presented. He wants to focus more on arresting criminals rather than carrying out high-profile operations that create chaos in cities like Minneapolis. This shift in immigration policy is partly driven by his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, who believes the current handling of immigration has turned a strong presidential theme into a politically sensitive issue with the midterm elections approaching. Tom Homan, the “border czar,” has also replaced the head of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Minneapolis and has been prioritizing more traditional interventions targeting individuals who have committed offenses.

A pro-deportation coalition has emerged, consisting of pro-Trump figures, organizations, and experts supportive of strict immigration policies. They aim to push the administration to resume mass expulsion policies targeting all expellable migrants. A survey conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, a pro-Trump institute, found that a majority of potential voters support these measures and see them as an electoral lever for Republicans.

On the other hand, some surveys reveal a more nuanced view of public opinion, with a Washington Post/ABC News poll showing that 58% of respondents believe Trump is going too far with his policies. Some Americans find the current policies too severe, and some Republican lawmakers, especially among Hispanics, fear alienating voters who had previously supported Trump. House Speaker Mike Johnson has acknowledged “tensions” and mentioned an ongoing adjustment.

Democrats and immigration advocates remain skeptical, questioning whether real change will occur as long as influential figures like Stephen Miller, a key architect of the Trump administration’s tough immigration stance, are still in place.