U.S. Border Patrol agents made a big show of force at California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting rally in Los Angeles on Thursday. “Do you think it’s a coincidence? Donald Trump and his team — Tom Homan, tough guy — clearly decided, coincidentally or not, that this was a place to push ICE arrests,” the governor told the crowd at the Japanese American National Museum.
That an American president sent masked agents to a rival’s political rally is a warning sign for the country. But politically, it also just looks foolish for Republicans. This helps Newsom, it helps the Democratic Party, and it does the opposite of what the Trump administration wants, which is to show that immigration forces are not politicized.
Of course, Border Patrol should do its job; Americans expect that. But their job is to protect our borders, not appear at rallies for the president’s opponents.
It’s not American. It’s not something most Americans want to see.
Actions like this won’t help Trump, especially since he’s already struggling politically. Polls show that most Americans agree with the president on immigration and think the U.S. should stop illegal entry. But his approval on the issue has dropped.
The problem isn’t the policies themselves; it’s how they are carried out. Scenes like Thursday in Los Angeles — agents in masks, sunglasses, no identification, arresting people in the streets — look harsh and un-American.
This approach has helped the president’s opponents politically. Democrats are doing well in general ballots, and they may have a chance to win a Senate majority in the midterms.
With this situation, Democrats could even win states like Maine, which Joe Biden and Kamala Harris carried in 2020 and 2024. North Carolina, which Biden and Harris lost, could also be competitive. Popular Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has entered the Senate race there and is leading in polls. In Ohio, former Sen. Sherrod Brown, a popular figure who lost in 2024, may run for the open Senate seat. Democrats are also looking at states like Iowa, Alaska, and Texas.
Trump’s actions are troubling and should worry all Americans. But they should also worry Republicans because every time Americans see Trump’s immigration tactics, the party loses support. It’s not a sight most people are comfortable with, and it could cost Republicans in the next election.
