Democrats won big on issues like immigration.
asserted
Democrats → win → immigration
But ICE still has the money
In the days leading up to the midterm elections, hundreds of people left their "I voted" stickers on a memorial for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Houston man killed by federal immigration agents earlier this year.
asserted
I → have → agents
"The fact that people were thinking of my dad and thinking of other immigrants — that just means the world to me," said Ronaldo Salgado, Salgado Araujo's son, told NPR.
asserted
Salgado → think → NPR
Those votes resulted in a seismic political shift in Texas: for the first time, a Latina, Democrat Gina Hinojosa, will be governor.
asserted
Latina → result → time
Texans also elected the state's first Democratic U.S. senator in nearly 40 years, and the Texas House of Representatives flipped.
asserted
House → elect → Representatives
"Unfortunately, Texas has become like the epicenter of ICE enforcement and like gross violence against immigrants," Ronaldo Salgado said.
asserted
Salgado → become → immigrants
"Well, the voters have spoken — incoming lawmakers now have a duty to listen to us."
asserted
lawmakers → speak → us
The political fallout
Immigration policy was one of the top issues on voters' minds this election, according to exit polling.
uncertain
policy → accord → polling
Artemio Muñiz of the Texas Federation of Hispanic Republicans, told NPR "with these anti-immigrant-type policies, I think the Hispanic community got fed up.
asserted
community → tell → policies
That seems more true than ever in the counties along the U.S.-Mexico border, which flipped Democratic after supporting Trump in 2024.
"
asserted
which → seem → 2024
I think the message is clear from the Texas Hispanic community that the only acceptable or effective Hispanic outreach from the Republican Party in Texas is one that includes a reasonable solution for immigration," Muñiz said, suggesting the solution should include secured borders and a legal pathway for undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. for decades.
asserted
who → think → decades
In Texas, Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa is facing calls to end the state's partnership with ICE.
asserted
Hinojosa → face → ICE
"That's something that can happen on day one," said César Espinosa, the executive director of the Houston-based advocacy organization FIEL.
asserted
Espinosa → happen → organization
He said his group would also like to see Hinojosa and the Texas legislature to push for driver licenses for undocumented immigrants.
asserted
Hinojosa → say → immigrants
Already, Houston's mayor is reducing his police department's cooperation with ICE.
asserted
mayor → reduce → ICE
Nationwide, immigration advocates say they want to see ICE defunded, or severely restricted.
asserted
ICE → say → ?
"We demand that the incoming Congress hold ICE accountable", says Murad Awawdeh of the New York Immigrant Coalition.
asserted
Awawdeh → demand → Coalition
What could the new Congress actually do?
uncertain
Congress → do → What
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., who is set to become the next chair of the House oversight committee, had two words of advice for Republicans on Election Day: "Lawyer up."
asserted
who → set → Day
Garcia has promised to look into several issues, including ICE accountability.
asserted
Garcia → promise → accountability
ICE is the highest funded federal law enforcement agency in the U.S.
asserted
ICE → fund → U.S.
Congress essentially gave immigration enforcement a blank check in 2025 and in 2026 they awarded ICE and Customs and Border Patrol around $240 billion.
asserted
they → give → billion
It's enough funds to run the mass deportation operation for the remainder of Trump's term.
asserted
It → run → term
Congress could claw back that money.
uncertain
Congress → claw → money
And lawmakers are already eyeing more stringent oversight.
asserted
lawmakers → eye → oversight
"We have to rein ICE in because its illegal, out-of-control activities (have) killed individuals … assaulted individuals … have incarcerated individuals," said Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who is likely to chair the House Homeland Security Committee.
asserted
who → have → Committee
"That system has to have accountability for the men and women who work in it."
asserted
who → have → it
He said he'd like to legally require policies, like requiring the use of body-worn cameras for federal immigration agents and banning them from wearing face coverings.
asserted
he → say → coverings
The major hurdle is President Trump: following the midterm election results the President said he would welcome the nickname "Mr. Veto."
asserted
he → follow → nickname
Another possible indication of how the administration will be seeing immigration enforcement moving forward came Friday, a few days after the midterm elections.
asserted
enforcement → see → elections
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was promoted to chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles.
asserted
Miller → promote → Wiles
Miller is considered the architect of the first Trump administration's child separation policy, and as NPR reported, was deeply involved in the project of turning large warehouses into immigration detention centers.
asserted
NPR → consider → centers
Naureen Shah at the ACLU says she thinks one of the most powerful things that could happen to change ICE behavior is Congressional oversight via subpoenas.
uncertain
that → say → subpoenas
"ICE has to be afraid," she said.
asserted
she → have → ?
"They have to be afraid of losing their funding, they have to be afraid of being subpoenaed and asked extremely hard questions before a live audience of the American people."
asserted
they → have → people
The Trump Administration vows that "Deportations will continue".
asserted
Deportations → vow → ?
The day after the Midterm elections, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin posted a three-word tweet : "Deportations will continue."
asserted
Deportations → post → tweet
Vice President JD Vance took to X to share his thoughts on the Republican Party's big loss.
asserted
Vance → take → loss
He said he believes it is due to voter's concerns over the economy, inflation and the war with Iran.
asserted
it → say → Iran
He left immigration enforcement off that list.
asserted
He → leave → list
…and 15 more, not listed.
The Aporia
