President Donald Trump signaled openness to an immigration deal after Democrats were projected to win both chambers of Congress, even as federal authorities continued detentions in cases drawing new scrutiny.
The Associated Press called Democratic control of the Senate late Nov. 3 and the House early Nov. 4. In a CBS News interview recorded Nov. 6, Trump said the crackdown had “both helped and hurt” him politically. Asked whether it had gone too far, he said, “I think it might be too tough, yeah,” and added, “I’d love to do something on immigration.” He also raised the possibility of a deal for some longtime residents.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin wrote on Nov. 4, “Deportations will continue.” The administration has announced no change to enforcement policy. The White House announced Nov. 6 that Stephen Miller, a longtime administration policymaker, would become chief of staff, succeeding Susie Wiles.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said it took Venezuelan brothers Carlos and Luis Orta-Santoro, both 19, into custody in Alabama on Nov. 5 after their temporary permission to stay expired. Their parents told WAFF the brothers had pending asylum applications and valid work permits. ICE said a pending application alone does not establish legal status and that an immigration judge would hear their claims.
A San Diego Unified School District letter dated Nov. 6 recounted the case of an 8-year-old Haitian pupil who went to an ICE check-in with his uncle and later entered federal custody. ICE said the uncle had not established legal guardianship, so the agency classified the boy as unaccompanied before transferring him to the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Democrats’ projected majorities would give them control of congressional hearings in the next Congress. California lawmakers requested a federal update by Dec. 1 on the child’s safety and possible family reunification. House Homeland Security Committee Democrat Bennie G. Thompson separately requested preservation assurances from the Department of Homeland Security by Nov. 11 and outstanding documents by Dec. 2.
