Trump Admits Immigration Crackdown May Have Hurt Republicans in Midterms

US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that his immigration crackdown may have been too tough and played a role in his party's poor performance in the midterm elections. In an interview with CBS' 60 Minutes programme, Trump said he believed he deserved high marks for limiting illegal border crossings, but had been politically hurt by sweeping deportations. His comments mark one of his clearest public retreats from a defining plank of his political agenda.

Trump's acknowledgement comes despite his homeland security department insisting that it was not backing away from the crackdown. According to ICE sources, officials have been instructed to aim for about 2,700 arrests of illegal immigrants per day, an increase from an earlier 2,000 daily arrest target. The president's comments suggest that his immigration policies may have had a negative impact on his fellow Republicans in the midterms.

Election day polling indicated that immigration was the third most important issue for midterm voters, after the economy and the state of democracy. In historically conservative states like Texas, a swing of Latino voters towards Democrats helped seal the Democratic Party's landslide majorities in Congress. Trump's comments suggest that his party may have suffered as a result of his tough immigration stance.

Trump told 60 Minutes that immigration "both helped and hurt" his fellow Republicans in Tuesday's midterms. He added that he thought he got an "A plus" for closing up the border and getting people out, but acknowledged that the issue had been politically costly. The president's comments have sparked debate about the impact of his immigration policies on his party's fortunes.

The midterm elections saw significant gains for Democrats, who won control of the House of Representatives and made gains in the Senate. The results were seen as a major setback for Trump and his Republican Party, and have sparked a re-evaluation of his policies and strategies. Trump's comments on immigration suggest that he may be rethinking his approach to the issue.

Trump's immigration policies have been a defining feature of his presidency, and have been the subject of intense debate and controversy. His administration has implemented a number of measures aimed at limiting immigration, including a travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries and a crackdown on asylum seekers. The policies have been widely criticized by Democrats and human rights groups.

The impact of Trump's immigration policies on his party's fortunes is likely to be a topic of debate for some time to come. While the president believes he deserves high marks for his efforts on immigration, his comments suggest that he is aware that the issue may have hurt his party in the midterms. As the Republican Party looks to the future, it is likely that Trump's immigration policies will continue to be a subject of discussion and debate.

Key points

• Trump admits his immigration crackdown may have hurt Republicans in midterms.