{"id":2598525,"date":"2026-05-04T12:42:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T16:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-ice-funding-could-be-the-next-challenge-for-swing-seat-republicans\/"},"modified":"2026-05-04T12:45:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T16:45:48","slug":"why-ice-funding-could-be-the-next-challenge-for-swing-seat-republicans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-ice-funding-could-be-the-next-challenge-for-swing-seat-republicans\/","title":{"rendered":"Why ICE funding could be the next challenge for swing seat Republicans"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhy-ice-funding-could-be-the-next-challenge-for-swing-seat-republicans%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2598525&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Washington Secrets says Republicans in key \u201ctoss-up\u201d and swing-seat races may face a difficult election-year fight over whether Congress funds U.S. Immigration and customs Enforcement (ICE). Even though President Trump\u2019s allies see ICE funding as aligned with popular support for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/there-will-be-no-enforcement-sheriff-blasts-biden-for-dismantling-ice\/\" title=\"\u2018There Will Be No Enforcement\u2019: Sheriff Blasts Biden For \u2018Dismantling\u2019 ...\">deporting illegal immigrants<\/a>, polls suggest voters-especially in competitive districts-have turned against ICE, making any vote risky for moderate Republicans who don\u2019t want to publicly take a controversial stance.<\/p>\n<p>Teh article notes that after Congress approved a Homeland Security funding measure to end a shutdown, the politically sensitive ICE\/border Patrol funding question was separated into its own budget process. Democrats reportedly will not fund ICE without agency reforms,which would trigger additional votes and keep ICE at the center of contentious negotiations.<\/p>\n<p>Concern is highlighted for lawmakers like Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, where a poll cited 55% disapproval of ICE\u2019s conduct. GOP strategists argue that \u201cloyalty tests\u201d on ICE funding could backfire in an already challenging election climate, perhaps mobilizing Democratic voters while Republican support is uncertain.Some sources downplay the impact-arguing funding bills typically don\u2019t move voters much-but others warn the president\u2019s push could force members in must-hold races into a no-win position.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p><strong><em>Welcome to a new week of <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>. The midterm elections are six months away, but today we bring you another worry for Republicans in toss-up races: the prospect of a vote on funding ICE. It\u2019s not popular with the public, which means moderate Republicans or candidates in blue states don\u2019t want to go on the record with a vote, even if the issue is hidden inside a reconciliation bill. Just don\u2019t expect them to complain \u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republicans\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republicans\/\">Republicans <\/a>already face a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/david-harsanyi-the-putins-price-hike-canard\/\" title=\"David Harsanyi: The \u201cPutin\u2019s Pr... Hike... Canard\">gas-price shock<\/a>, an unpopular war, and cratering approval rates for their president ahead of November\u2019s midterm elections.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4553280\/ice-funding-vote-next-challenge-swing-seat-republicans\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Why an ICE funding vote could be the next challenge for swing seat Republicans<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4551105\/white-house-report-card-kimmel-joke-bombs-royal-glitter-trump\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>White House report card: Kimmel joke bombs while royal glitter rubs off on Trump<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4549223\/trump-pollster-gop-running-against-itself-offense-midterm-elections\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump pollster: GOP must stop running against itself and go on offense ahead of midterm elections<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Insiders say you can add another trap to the list: A looming vote on funding for U.S. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ice\/\">Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>While Donald Trump\u2019s push to expel illegal immigrants is popular, poll after poll in key districts and states suggests voters have lost confidence in ICE. Why try to push through an unpopular vote when Republicans are already <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/plouffe-really-really-dark-and-bleak-for-democrats-unless-they-turn-it-around-in-the-next-12-months\/\" title=\"Plouffe: &#039;Really, Really Dark and Bleak&#039; for Democrats Unless They Turn It Around in the Next 12 Months\">facing headwinds<\/a>, said a source working for the campaign of a member in a toss-up district in California.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a vote you\u2019d expect to happen if Democrats were in charge, a vote on something controversial that was difficult for Republicans to vote against or vote for, right?\u201d the source said. \u201cSo they could use it going into the election against members in swing and toss-up districts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Congress ended the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4550657\/trump-sign-dhs-funding-bill\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4550657\/trump-sign-dhs-funding-bill\/\">Department of Homeland Security shutdown <\/a>last week, passing a bill to resume funding. But it carved out the politically tricky question of money for ICE and Border Patrol, kicking it into a separate budget framework.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4551691\/tensions-john-thune-mike-johnson-loom-gop-immigration-push\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4551691\/tensions-john-thune-mike-johnson-loom-gop-immigration-push\/\"><strong>READ MORE: TENSIONS BETWEEN JOHN THUNE AND MIKE JOHNSON LOOM OVER GOP IMMIGRATION PUSH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Democrats are refusing to fund it unless there are reforms to the way the agencies operate. That means more votes on an agency that has seen its approval plummet after two protesters were shot dead in Minneapolis this year, amid a sweeping deportation push.<\/p>\n<p>That poses problems for the likes of Republican <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\">Sen. Susan Collins<\/a>, who is seeking reelection in Maine, where a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ioc-president-will-not-add-fuel-to-summer-olympics-cancellation-rumors\/\" title=\"IOC president will \u2018not add fuel\u2019 to Summer Olympics cancellation rumors\">recent poll showed<\/a> that 55% of voters disapproved of the way ICE is going about its business.<\/p>\n<p>A consultant who worked on Collins\u2019 previous campaigns said she had already won more support from the party base this year than she had managed in previous campaigns.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s why this idea of a loyalty test, whether it\u2019s this ICE money or anything else, is so counterproductive in what is already looking like a really terrible year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Maine is one of the key battlegrounds this year. If Collins can hold her seat, it likely means Democrats will fall short of the four flips they need to take the upper chamber.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf Trump wants to keep a Republican Senate and if Senate leadership wants to stay in Senate leadership, then they need to knock off the tests,\u201d said the consultant.<\/p>\n<p>GOP consultant Liz Mair said only Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) had a \u201ctoo close to call\u201d race where ICE was not expected to be a problem for the incumbent Republican. And that came in a state where Trump increased his margin from 8 percentage points in 2020 to 11 percentage points in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo we\u2019re basically saying that only in a state that has gotten progressively redder might [get] more funding, when DHS has something like $70 billion still in the bank, be a non-factor,\u201d Mair said. \u201cA recent analysis (by the libertarian Cato Institute) estimated that more than $70 billion remained from the cash injection into DHS under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYet with that said, it\u2019s worth noting that some Ohio Republicans still use words like \u2018malaise\u2019 to describe sentiment about giving ICE more money at this particular point in the year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mair added: \u201cFocusing on action to address high healthcare and gas prices seems like a much better use of legislative time if you want to position these candidates to hold these seats, which of course they must to best insulate Trump against being impeached a third, fourth, or even fifth time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A Republican Senate campaign source played down the impact, saying ICE funding was \u201cnot a dealbreaker.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFunding bills rarely have much impact in the polling booth,\u201d he said. \u201cIt might mobilize the Democrats, but seats won\u2019t be at risk because of this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Few Republicans will go public with their concerns for fear of attracting the president\u2019s wrath.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s the challenge facing congressional leadership,\u201d said the Collins source. \u201cTrump\u2019s going to come to them and say, \u2018I would like money for ICE, and they\u2019re going to go to members in toss-up and swing districts who are going to say, \u2018We can\u2019t vote for that.&#8217;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd when those two things are at odds, the president usually wins,\u201d the source added.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-correction-of-the-weekend\">Correction of the weekend<\/h2>\n<p>This is from Saturday\u2019s <em>New York Times<\/em>. We are all struggling with how to use AI. Even the Gray Lady\u2026<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>An <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/04\/14\/world\/canada\/election-carney-liberal-party.html\">article<\/a> on April 15 about the success that Mark Carney, the Liberal prime minister of Canada, has had in <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >building cross-party alliances<\/a> was updated after The Times learned that a remark attributed to Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative leader, was in fact an A.I.-generated summary of his views about Canadian politics that A.I. rendered as a quotation. The reporter should have checked the accuracy of what the A.I. tool returned. The article now accurately quotes from a speech delivered by Mr. Poilievre in April. He said, \u201cMy personal opinion is that when a member of Parliament goes back on the word they made to their constituents and switches parties, constituents should be able to petition to throw them out and have a byelection. That would put the people back in charge of our democracy rather than having dirty backroom Liberal deals by Mark Carney determine our destiny.\u201d He did not refer to politicians who changed allegiances as turncoats in that speech.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lunchtime-reading\">Lunchtime reading<\/h2>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/02\/magazine\/tucker-carlson-interhttps:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/02\/magazine\/tucker-carlson-interview-trump-iran.htmlview-trump-iran.html\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/02\/magazine\/tucker-carlson-interhttps:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/02\/magazine\/tucker-carlson-interview-trump-iran.htmlview-trump-iran.html\"><strong>What does Tucker Carlson really believe? I went to Maine to find out<\/strong><\/a>: This is the interview that everyone is talking about. So does he think Trump is the Antichrist?<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/columnists\/4551998\/ed-gallrein-shows-northern-kentucky-what-he-is-made-of\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/columnists\/4551998\/ed-gallrein-shows-northern-kentucky-what-he-is-made-of\/\"><strong>Ed Gallrein shows Northern Kentucky what he is made of<\/strong><\/a>: Salena Zito visits one of the most high-profile Republican primaries. \u201cKentucky\u2019s 4th Congressional District is the tale of an interesting voter mindset. Many want Massie to lose, more than I think Massie understands. They feel as though they are Lucy holding the football and pulling it away just as Charlie Brown attempts to make the kick.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>You are reading <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>, a guide to power and politics in D.C. and beyond. It is written by Rob Crilly, who you can reach at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#b0c3d5d3c2d5c4c3f0c7d1c3d8d9ded7c4dfded5c8d1ddd9ded5c29ed3dfdd\"><span class=\"__cf_email__\" data-cfemail=\"5c2f393f2e39282f1c2b3d2f3435323b28333239243d313532392e723f3331\">[email\u00a0protected]<\/span><\/a> with your comments, story tips, and suggestions. If a friend sent you this and you\u2019d like to sign up, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/click1.trk-washingtonexaminer.com\/xprvgynrhhctscghtpnrptnqlrtypjmjlkrlcnpvhgpdcr_jtjrvfbrrsmwbqmnsbmvsv.html?a=Washington+Secrets+Lara+Trump&#038;b=01%2F21%2F2026&#038;c=WEX_Washington+Secrets&#038;d=25812206&#038;e=da31c45955c9411a6c40ecd0e967fa8def1f0fc08362faaa0dee09386ff5c41b\">click here<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to Washington Secrets: six months to midterms, and a likely ICE funding vote worries GOP swing-state seats<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4136,"featured_media":2598526,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26083638886986.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[33926,71567,36382,79075,38710],"class_list":["post-2598525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-campaign-finance","tag-ice-funding","tag-immigration-policy","tag-swing-seat-republicans","tag-u-s-congress"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26083638886986.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2598525"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598525\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2598529,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598525\/revisions\/2598529"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2598526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2598525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2598525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2598525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}