Trump says immigration crackdown was 'too tough' and played part in midterms elections defeat

U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged that his administration's immigration crackdown was "too tough," marking a notable shift in tone following his party's heavy losses in the midterm elections.

Speaking in an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes broadcast on Sunday evening, Trump defended his record on border security but conceded that sweeping deportations had politically "hurt" Republican candidates at the ballot box.

"I think it was too tough," Trump said, adding that while he earned high marks for securing the border and removing dangerous criminals, the administration suffered politically by deporting individuals with stable jobs who had only committed immigration violations.

Exit polls showed immigration ranked as the third most critical issue for voters behind the economy and the state of democracy. In historically conservative strongholds like Texas, a shift in Latino voters toward the Democratic Party contributed to the Democrats' congressional gains.

Despite the President's public reflections, conflicting signals have emerged from within the administration. While Vice President JD Vance expressed openness to adjusting enforcement strategies suggesting a greater focus on businesses hiring undocumented labor, President Trump recently appointed prominent immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff.

Furthermore, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sources indicated that operational targets have recently increased, aiming for approximately 2,700 arrests per day compared to an earlier target of 2,000, as the Department of Homeland Security maintains that enforcement operations will continue without slowing down.