Trump Says Crackdown Hurt GOP in Midterms

Trump told CBS's 60 Minutes that his immigration enforcement was too tough and cost Republicans politically in Tuesday's midterm elections.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Immigration

Trump Says Crackdown Hurt GOP in Midterms

Live Poll

Do you think the federal immigration crackdown has gone too far?

In a CBS 60 Minutes interview that aired Sunday evening, Trump said his immigration crackdown was too tough and hurt Republicans, while also claiming he deserved an A plus for drastically limiting illegal border crossings. The Homeland Security department insisted it was not backing away from the crackdown.

Why it matters

The comments highlight how immigration enforcement cut both ways for Republicans in the midterms, with Trump saying it both helped and hurt the party. Election day polling showed immigration as the third most important issue for voters, and a swing of Latino voters toward Democrats helped seal the Democratic Party's landslide majorities in Congress in Texas.

ICE officials were instructed in recent weeks to aim for about 2,700 arrests of illegal immigrants per day, up from the previous target of 2,000. The extraction does not provide the actual daily arrest totals or the timeline for reaching the new target.

The players

Donald Trump

Donald Trump is the current President of the United States, who has made border security and immigration enforcement central to his political agenda.

Homeland Security Department

The Department of Homeland Security is the federal agency responsible for border security, immigration enforcement, and ICE operations.

The details

Trump made the remarks in an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes, claiming his border policies were a success while acknowledging the sweeping deportations damaged Republicans politically. The Homeland Security department responded that it was not retreating from the enforcement push.

Sunday evening: 60 Minutes interview with Trump airs on CBS.
Tuesday: Midterm elections where immigration helped and hurt Republicans.

Political Context

Trump's comments arrive as the administration pushes ICE toward a higher daily arrest target, even as he acknowledges the enforcement drive cost Republicans votes. The opposition has framed mass deportations as a political liability with Latino voters, a dynamic the extraction's Texas result reflects.

A higher daily ICE arrest target of 2,700 could affect immigrant families and communities across the country as enforcement intensifies. Voters and residents should watch how the revised quota is implemented in practice.

The takeaway

Immigration enforcement has become a double-edged issue for the party in power, with the president now acknowledging its political costs. Readers should track how enforcement targets translate into real arrests and how voters respond in future elections.