In the latest U.S. election cycle, some Democrats in competitive House districts found success by adopting a strong stance on border security, effectively neutralizing a common Republican attack. With a closely divided Congress, these Democrats are positioning themselves to play a crucial role, navigating the challenging political landscape between President Trump’s hardline deportation policies and the progressive wing of their own party, which opposes stricter measures.
“We are willing to work with the new administration,” said Rep. Mike Levin (D-California), “but we don’t want mass deportations or family separations. That’s not the approach that will help us find common ground.”
Levin is part of a group of House Democrats — both incumbents and newcomers — who turned immigration into a winning issue in the midterm elections. Instead of defending themselves against Republican attacks, these candidates embraced the migrant crisis and proposed solutions ranging from increased border enforcement to reforming the asylum process.
Newly elected Democrats like Laura Gillen and Josh Riley in New York used border security as a key part of their campaigns, highlighting concerns about the influx of asylum seekers. In ads, Riley, who won a seat in upstate New York, argued that “politicians from both parties have failed us on the border.” Meanwhile, Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio and Rep. Don Davis of North Carolina also addressed the border issue, with Kaptur blaming the “far left” for ignoring illegal crossings, and Gillen promising to work with anyone to address the migrant crisis.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) helped craft this unified messaging on immigration, and party officials believe it was a key factor in Democrats gaining a net seat in the House, despite losses elsewhere. They also see it as a potential blueprint for future elections.
“From New York to California, House Democrats proactively addressed border security this cycle, winning tough races and creating a roadmap for 2026,” said DCCC spokeswoman Ellie Dougherty.
Bipartisanship and Border Security
With a narrow Republican majority in the House, cooperation between the two parties will be essential. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-New York) stressed the importance of bipartisan efforts, noting that the divided Congress requires lawmakers to work across party lines.
Suozzi, who won a special election in February, has long championed a centrist approach to immigration. His campaign focused on strengthening border security, overhauling asylum laws, and modernizing the immigration process. He has been collaborating with Texas Republican Rep. Morgan Luttrell on legislation to address border security.
A recent poll from the National Immigration Forum found that 86% of Americans support candidates who “work to restore order at the border” and advocate for bipartisan immigration reform.
Progressive Pushback
However, some immigrant rights advocates and progressive Democrats are skeptical of any tough stance that includes mass deportations or building a border wall, a key feature of Trump’s past rhetoric.
Heidi Altman of the National Immigration Law Center criticized the trend, saying that many Democrats were trying to “out-Trump Trump” by adopting harder positions on immigration. “This reflects years of Trump’s rhetoric that dehumanizes immigrant communities,” she said.
Progressive Democrats, like Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington), also caution against negotiating with Trump’s hardline allies. “Voters want a solution, not cruelty,” Jayapal said.
Common Ground on Border Security
Rep. Levin, who has visited the U.S.-Mexico border several times, said both parties must find a middle ground on immigration. “Demonizing immigrants doesn’t solve anything, and neither does extreme cuts to homeland security,” he said. “We need order and common sense.”
Gillen, who unseated Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito in Long Island, echoed this sentiment, promising to work with Trump and both parties to address border security.
Levin and other Democrats have backed bipartisan legislation to address illegal migration, though Republican efforts to block such measures earlier this year, led by Trump, have stalled progress.
Trump has made immigration a central issue in his campaign, promising mass deportations and focusing on criminal immigrants. In a recent interview, he suggested ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented parents and deporting U.S. citizens from mixed-status families. However, Trump also expressed willingness to work with Democrats on legislation to protect “Dreamers,” undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.
Levin remains hopeful that Republicans will come to the table with realistic proposals. “Many of us are ready to work with them,” he said.
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