Immigration Push and Pull

Immigration is one of the biggest issues at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Texas. President Donald Trump wants to show that his immigration policies have made the country safer. But polls suggest that many Americans are not fully on board with how aggressive the government has been.

Republicans at the convention planned to celebrate what they see as a big win at the southern border. Speakers included people who live near the border and say they are grateful for fewer illegal crossings. The White House even put games on its official website that let users pretend to be Border Patrol agents.

Even so, Republican leaders are being careful about what they promise next. A speaker named Paul Perez, who leads the National Border Patrol Council, planned to argue that Republicans would focus on removing dangerous criminals — not everyone who is undocumented. Polls show that many voters prefer a targeted approach over mass deportations.

A new poll shows that Democrats have been gaining ground with Latino voters. Many Latino voters are upset about high costs of living, but they are also unhappy with deportation policies. This trend is seen as a warning sign for the Republican Party.

In Florida, state leaders have taken some of the toughest immigration stances in the nation. The state's board of governors recently voted to ban undocumented students from attending public colleges starting in the 2027–2028 school year. Florida Republicans show no sign of easing up on strict immigration rules.

Democrats are not sure immigration is their strongest campaign topic right now. When the Democratic National Committee criticized the Republican convention, it did not even bring up immigration. Instead, Democrats focused on high prices, tariffs, health care cuts, and the war in Iran.

Despite that, immigration protests are happening across Florida. In Jacksonville, immigrant rights advocates and faith leaders gathered outside a detention center nicknamed the 'Deportation Depot.' They called for an independent investigation into conditions inside the former state prison being used to hold immigrants.

Immigration is also expected to be a major topic at the National Baptist Convention USA Inc. in Orlando this week. The group's leader has been outspoken in his criticism of immigration enforcement. Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York is among those set to speak at the event.