Some Senate Republicans say they’re willing to reopen discussions about immigration policy after President Donald Trump suggested he might reach an agreement with Democrats. But they draw a firm line at amnesty.
Republicans are reconsidering the debate after major midterm losses and signs that voters were unhappy with the administration’s approach. A September poll found that 53% of voters thought Trump’s immigration policies had gone too far.
“I trust President Trump. He’s going to do what’s right,” Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., said. “But amnesty is off the table for me. I’ll never support it.”
The discussion gained momentum after Trump said in a weekend interview that his administration’s mass deportation and enforcement policies might be “too tough.” He said the government should remove people who commit serious crimes, including murder, rape and drug dealing, while considering a deal for others who have lived in the country for 10 or 15 years.
The administration moved quickly to clarify the remarks. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said there would be “no amnesty.”
Even so, Republicans appear prepared to engage on the issue as Democrats prepare to take power next year. Some lawmakers have been urging a policy discussion for months.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who is retiring at the end of the year and has been a prominent Republican critic of the administration’s immigration policies, said he texted Trump as early as March. He suggested it was an ideal moment to put border measures into law and use that as a basis for merit-based immigration reform.
Tillis said he also told Trump that Stephen Miller would need to be “out of the room or on his meds” for the effort to succeed. He argued that the administration’s decision to back away from the idea reflected a mistaken belief that reform would upset Republican voters.
“Our base is fine with merit-based immigration reform. President Trump is fine with merit-based immigration reform,” Tillis said. He added that Republicans could be blamed if border protections aren’t codified and a Democratic president later weakens them.
Just before Trump won the 2024 election, the Senate came close to passing a bipartisan immigration deal while Democrats controlled the chamber. The agreement fell apart after Trump criticized it and Senate Republicans pulled their support.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said the issue carries “a lot of scar tissue,” but argued that Trump has credibility because he secured the border and has shown an openness to further discussions. Thune said he had not yet seen a specific proposal, but Republicans would hear one out.
The earlier deal was negotiated by Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. It would have provided billions of dollars for border security and sharply restricted asylum access at the border, along with other policy changes. Conservatives opposed the agreement, and Trump’s criticism during the campaign helped sink it.
Lankford may again play a central role in talks with Democrats. He is expected to become the top Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee next year.
“If I’m ranking on Homeland Security, I’m right in the thick of it, whether you like it or not,” Lankford said.
Republicans differ on what immigration policy should look like, but many say the administration’s enforcement methods, especially those used under former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, should not return.
“First and foremost, you have to make sure enforcement isn’t handled the way the administration started under Kristi Noem,” Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., said. He added that voters support some enforcement, but not what he described as cruel practices, inadequate training and flawed methods.
“People want to take enforcement seriously,” Budd said. “But, again, no amnesty at all. We don’t want to go there. Ronald Reagan was a great president, but amnesty was one of his few—and significant—regrets. I don’t think Trump wants to make that mistake.”
