Trump Admits Immigration Crackdown Was Too Harsh and Hurt Republicans in Midterm Elections

Speaking in an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, Trump said he deserved high marks for reducing illegal border crossings but admitted that the deportation campaign had also damaged him politically.

He explained that while his administration had successfully removed people he described as criminals, it had also deported individuals who had jobs and had committed no other offence apart from entering the country illegally.

“I think it was too tough,” Trump said.

The president also expressed willingness to work with congressional Democrats on immigration reforms, although he did not provide details of what such cooperation would involve.

Immigration ranked as the third most important issue for voters in the midterm elections, following the economy and the state of democracy. In traditionally conservative states such as Texas, increased support for Democrats among Latino voters contributed to the party’s strong electoral performance.

Trump’s comments come as members of his administration face pressure to reconsider their enforcement strategy. Vice-President JD Vance recently suggested that authorities could focus more on businesses employing undocumented workers.

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However, the Department of Homeland Security has insisted that immigration enforcement will continue without slowing down.

The appointment of Stephen Miller, a leading architect of Trump’s hardline immigration agenda, to a senior White House position has also raised doubts about whether the administration intends to significantly change its approach.

Meanwhile, immigration enforcement operations have triggered protests in several US cities, including Chicago, Minneapolis and Los Angeles.