Republicans suffered sweeping losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections, but a source close to the White House told Breitbart News that immigration enforcement remained a rare source of strength for the party.
“The bright spot on Tuesday’s election was the President’s signature issue, immigration, motivated Republican voters to turn out to the polls,” the source said.
The source credited President Donald Trump’s immigration team, naming Stephen Miller and Tom Homan, with what was described as “the most secure border in American history,” adding that more than 3 million illegal aliens have left the United States under the administration.
CNN exit polling cited by the source showed immigration still ranks as the top issue among Republican voters, and among the top issues for the electorate overall.
Government data shows the nation’s foreign-born population fell by 2.9 million between January 2025 and July 2026 — a sharp reversal from the prior four years, when the foreign-born population grew by 8.3 million during the Biden administration’s post-pandemic border surge.
“Despite constant hoaxes and fake news about ICE, immigration remains the Republicans’ best to focus on and build with voters in 2028,” the source said. “The administration will continue to prioritize securing the border, immigration enforcement, rooting out fraud, and restoring law and order.”
Amnesty Push Meets Resistance From the Data
In the immediate aftermath of the GOP’s midterm defeat, several special interest groups argued that immigration policy had cost Republicans seats and called on the party to pursue a mass amnesty for illegal aliens once Democrats take control of Congress.
But that argument runs into a complication: House Republicans who backed amnesty legislation this year did not fare well at the polls. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), lead sponsor of the DIGNIDAD Act, narrowly held her seat along with two of the bill’s co-sponsors. Eight other co-sponsors were not as fortunate, losing their seats to Democratic challengers — among them Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO).
A similar pattern emerged around Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals. Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH), who had criticized the Trump administration’s decision to end Haitian TPS and voted with Democrats to extend it, lost his race to a Democratic challenger. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), another Republican who voted to restore Haitian TPS, was also defeated.
Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), who likewise supported extending Haitian TPS, trailed Democratic challenger Kristina Knickerbocker by fewer than 5,000 votes with 97.5 percent of the vote counted.
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