Democrats found their border message. ICE is another story.
They’re trying to balance a base furious at ICE with swing voters wary of abolishing the agency — a divide that could influence the midterms and the party’s path in 2028.
Democrats have found their message on the border, but they are still divided on how to handle Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While moderate and progressive Democrats are calling for a secure border and acknowledging the negative impact of the Biden administration's policies on the 2024 election, they remain at odds over how far to go in reining in ICE.
Some candidates are advocating for reforms, while others are pushing to dissolve the agency entirely. A recent POLITICO poll found that only 21% of undecided midterm voters support abolishing ICE, while 51% of moderate Democrats and 67% of progressive Democrats do. The party is struggling to present a unified front on this issue as they head into the midterms, with candidates being pulled between their base and undecided voters.
Democrats are aware of their previous missteps on this matter and vow not to repeat them in the 2028 presidential race.
Written by urgent.news from POLITICO's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
