Five Republican candidates promise to tighten Trump's immigration grip ahead of midterm vote

Five Republican candidates across five states have pledged to intensify the administration’s immigration enforcement strategy in the days leading up to the November 3 midterm elections. Their platforms, released or articulated through campaign appearances and interviews this month, center on expanding cooperation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The proposals range from local police partnerships to federal budget requests. While Democrats running for office generally promise protections for immigrants, these GOP challengers and incumbents argue for a stricter application of existing federal laws from the state level or through Congressional action.

Byron Donalds, the Republican congressional candidate for Florida governor, visited a potential ICE facility in Orlando on January 29, 2026. He criticized local Democratic leaders who opposed the site. According to a transcript from his campaign, Donalds stated, "As next governor of Florida, we are going to support President Trump." His plan includes requiring state and local police to work with ICE to detain and deport undocumented immigrants with criminal records.

Donalds also proposes mandating that private employers use the federal E-Verify system to check worker authorization. His campaign argues that this will reduce unauthorized labor. However, legal experts note that while a governor can influence state police, the power to order specific deportations remains a federal function.

In Georgia, candidate Rick Jackson aims to make the state a leader in deportation numbers. He told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "As governor, I will address public safety and immigration from the same perspective: enforcing the law." Jackson acknowledged in an interview with WSB-TV that a governor cannot legally deport individuals directly. His strategy focuses on prioritizing federal removal processes for those with criminal convictions.

Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general seeking a Senate seat, plans to work with the president to complete the border wall. His campaign highlights his record of suing the previous administration over border policies. As a senator, Paxton would vote on budgets and negotiate legislation to fund border infrastructure, though he would not have the unilateral authority to order individual deportations.

Andy Barr, a Kentucky congressman running for the Senate, has made funding ICE a central pillar of his race. He claimed in a campaign ad that he helped triple the number of ICE agents. WKYT examined this claim in October 2026. The 2025 budget law provided $75 billion for ICE over four years. The agency reported its workforce grew from 10,000 to 22,000, a 120 percent increase.

Barr supports re-establishing the "Remain in Mexico" program and ending the "catch and release" practice. He argues that these steps will streamline the process for removing undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes. His platform also calls for resuming border wall construction and hiring additional border agents.

Marsha Blackburn, the Tennessee senator running for governor, published a campaign ad on July 14, 2026. She promised to deport immigrants in the country without authorization and to fight cartels. In an interview with WSMV on October 22, 2026, she cited the Memphis Safe Task Force as a model. She stated, "Those are things we need to reinforce. We have to continue with them."

Blackburn backs the 287(g) program, which allows local police to perform immigration functions under federal supervision. She has said all undocumented immigrants in Tennessee should be deported. Unlike her counterparts who focus on those with criminal records, Blackburn’s proposal extends to all non-citizens in the state without authorization. The state government can influence the degree of cooperation with federal agencies, but the final execution of deportation orders rests with the federal government.