Texas Shifts Blue, ICE Funding Stays High

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Texas. In the days before the November midterm elections, hundreds of voters placed their stickers on a memorial for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. Salgado Araujo was a Houston man killed by federal immigration agents earlier in 2026. His son, Ronaldo Salgado, said the display of support meant the world to his family. The voters in Texas delivered a political change that few expected. For the first time, a Latina Democrat, Gina Hinojosa, will serve as governor. Texans also elected the state’s first Democratic U.S. senator in nearly 40 years. The Texas House of Representatives flipped to Democratic control.

Ronaldo Salgado said Texas has become the center of Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity and violence against immigrants. He stated that the voters have spoken and that incoming lawmakers have a duty to listen. Exit polling showed that immigration policy was a top issue for voters. Artemio Muniz of the Texas Federation of Hispanic Republicans told NPR that the Hispanic community grew tired of anti-immigrant policies. He noted that counties along the U.S.-Mexico border flipped to the Democratic column after supporting Trump in 2024.

Muniz argued that the Republican Party needs a reasonable immigration solution to maintain Hispanic outreach. He suggested this solution should include secured borders and a legal pathway for long-term undocumented residents. In Texas, Governor-elect Hinojosa faces calls to end the state’s partnership with ICE. Cesar Espinosa, executive director of the Houston-based advocacy organization FIEL, said the partnership could end on day one. He also wants Hinojosa and the legislature to push for driver licenses for undocumented immigrants. Houston’s mayor has already reduced police cooperation with ICE.

Nationwide, immigration advocates want to see ICE defunded or severely restricted. Murad Awawdeh of the New York Immigrant Coalition said the incoming Congress must hold ICE accountable. Representative Robert Garcia, D-Calif., is set to become chair of the House oversight committee. He told Republicans on Election Day to lawyer up. Garcia promised to investigate ICE accountability. ICE is the highest funded federal law enforcement agency in the U.S. Congress gave immigration enforcement a blank check in 2025. In 2026, lawmakers awarded ICE and Customs and Border Patrol around $240 billion. That amount is enough to fund mass deportation operations for the remainder of Trump’s term.

Congress could claw back that money. Lawmakers are already eyeing stricter oversight. Representative Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who is likely to chair the House Homeland Security Committee, said the system needs accountability. He cited illegal activities that have killed and assaulted individuals. He wants to legally require body-worn cameras for federal agents. He also wants to ban face coverings. President Trump said he would welcome the nickname Mr. Veto following the midterm results. The administration signaled its stance on immigration enforcement on Friday. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was promoted to chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles. Miller was the architect of the first Trump administration’s child separation policy and helped convert warehouses into detention centers.

Naureen Shah of the ACLU said congressional oversight via subpoenas could change ICE behavior. She said ICE must be afraid of losing funding and facing hard questions before a live audience. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin posted a three-word tweet the day after the election. He wrote that deportations will continue. Vice President JD Vance said the Republican loss was due to economy, inflation, and the war with Iran. He did not list immigration enforcement. He said he is open to focusing on businesses that hire undocumented workers. He said immigration amnesty is not the solution.

The Trump administration spent billions to expand ICE detention facilities. A record number of people have died in detention since the start of Trump’s second term. The day after the midterm results, CoreCivic and the GEO Group held quarterly investor calls. The main question for CoreCivic was how the election results would affect ICE operations. CoreCivic President Lucibeth Mayberry said ICE has begun increasing enforcement activity. She noted that the agency has secure funding. She urged the ICE administration to move quickly on purchasing new detention centers.