Trump to Expand Immigration Crackdown Ahead of Midterm Elections
Donald Trump, President of the United States, has announced plans to expand immigration enforcement programs in 2026 as the midterm elections approach. This initiative, backed by a substantial budget, is moving forward despite growing political opposition and public concern.
Under this program, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will receive an additional $170 billion in funding through September 2029. These funds will be used to recruit thousands of new agents, expand detention facilities, and intensify enforcement measures, including increased inspections and workplace raids.
In 2025, immigration agents were primarily deployed in major U.S. cities, leaving many key workplaces less affected by these actions. However, U.S. officials say the next phase will involve a broader enforcement focus, particularly targeting workplace environments.
Amid these plans, public concern is rising over harsh tactics, such as neighborhood raids and the detention of some American citizens. Recent polls show Trump’s popularity on immigration has dropped from 50% in March to 41% in mid-December.
In addition, the U.S. government has revoked Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of migrants from Haiti, Venezuela, and Afghanistan, significantly increasing the number of individuals at risk of deportation and escalating human rights concerns.
Official figures indicate that since Trump returned to office in January, approximately 622,000 migrants have been deported, a number still short of his stated goal of deporting one million people annually.
Tom Homan, the White House’s border affairs official, stated that with increased personnel and detention capacity, detentions are expected to rise significantly next year. Meanwhile, critics warn that intensified workplace inspections could raise labor costs and carry serious political and economic consequences, especially as the midterm elections approach.
