House Speaker says immigration enforcement concerns among Hispanic voters require a “course correction,” while advocacy groups press the administration to expand deportations.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
House Speaker Mike Johnson said this week that Republicans are adjusting their approach to immigration enforcement after what he described as concerns among some Hispanic and Latino voters about the intensity of recent deportation efforts.
Johnson’s comments came during an onstage interview at the House Republican retreat in Doral, Florida, where he discussed political strategy heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
During the discussion, Johnson acknowledged that immigration enforcement policies had generated criticism from some voters.
“We got a little hiccup with some of the Hispanic and Latino voters, for certain, because some of the immigration enforcement was viewed to be overzealous,” Johnson said.
“But here’s the good news, we’re in a course correction mode right now.”
Immigration enforcement has been a central policy issue for President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers. During the 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to carry out what he described as the largest deportation effort in U.S. history, saying he hoped to return “nearly 20 million” migrants to their home countries, according to reporting from the New York Post.
Johnson told the audience that the administration’s immigration policies would continue but would be implemented with a more deliberate approach.
“We uphold the rule of law, but we do it in a way that honors the dignity of everyone,” Johnson said. “And they’ll understand that our party is with them.”
He also expressed confidence in incoming Homeland Security leadership, saying that Senator Markwayne Mullin would bring a thoughtful approach if confirmed as secretary, working alongside border enforcement official Tom Homan.
Johnson said the Republican Party believes its broader policy agenda—including economic growth, wages, and cost-of-living issues—will resonate with voters ahead of the midterm elections.
At the same time, some conservative groups and immigration policy advocates are pushing the administration to intensify deportation efforts rather than scale them back.
A newly formed advocacy organization called the Mass Deportation Coalition has launched an effort to encourage the administration to prioritize the removal of all migrants who are eligible for deportation.
The group includes several figures associated with past immigration enforcement initiatives, including former acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan and former Blackwater CEO Erik Prince, as well as conservative policy organizations.
According to reporting from Politico, the coalition plans to lobby the administration and lawmakers to expand deportation efforts.
The group has also commissioned polling aimed at demonstrating political support for broader enforcement.
A survey conducted by McLaughlin & Associates found that 66 percent of likely voters in 2026 support deporting migrants who enter the country illegally, while 58 percent said they support deporting all migrants who are eligible for removal, not only those convicted of violent crimes.
Chris Chmielenski, president of the Immigration Accountability Project, said supporters of Trump expect strong enforcement measures to continue.
“Overwhelmingly, Trump voters expect this from the administration,” Chmielenski said in comments reported by Politico. “They don’t just support it — they expect it.”
Meanwhile, reports have circulated that White House officials are encouraging Republican lawmakers to avoid emphasizing the phrase “mass deportations” in public messaging ahead of the midterm elections.
According to reporting from Axios cited in the article, White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair told House Republicans during the retreat to focus messaging on deporting violent criminals rather than broader removals.
Administration officials disputed the interpretation that immigration enforcement priorities are changing.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said the administration remains committed to deporting migrants who commit crimes.
“President Trump’s highest priority has always been the deportation of illegal alien criminals who endanger American communities,” Jackson said.
“Nobody is changing the administration’s immigration enforcement agenda.”
Immigration policy remains one of the most prominent issues in the Trump administration’s domestic agenda, and it is expected to remain a central topic in the lead-up to the 2026 congressional elections.
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