Trump's immigration enforcement may shift Texas voter allegiances

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 10:50 · Archive

President Trump's deportation operations could reshape voting patterns among Texans, with Hispanic voters reconsidering their support.

President Trump's immigration enforcement operations could reshape voting patterns in Texas, particularly among Hispanic voters who supported him in recent elections. Recent polls suggest the president faces challenging headwinds in the state ahead of upcoming elections.

In the Rio Grande Valley, the effects of immigration enforcement are being felt directly. Father Roy Snipes, a Catholic priest known locally as the Cowboy Priest, has ministered at the tiny La Lomita Catholic Chapel for nearly half a century. The chapel, which dates from the era of the American Civil War and sits about 200 yards from the Rio Grande, attracts mainly Hispanic worshippers.

During his Friday service, Snipes focused his sermon on the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He told his congregation of about 30 people that there was 'no good excuse to detain, incarcerate and deport poor, good folks who are our neighbours'. This echoes concerns about the scale of enforcement: according to government figures obtained by the Deportation Data Project, Texas accounted for roughly one-third of all ICE arrests nationwide in July 2026, a larger share than any other state.

How it is being reported

• Hispanic voters helped bring Trump to power - in Texas, the tide may be turningRecent polls suggest the president is facing challenging headwinds in the state ahead of the midterms.BBC News · 23 Oct, 10:23
• How Trump's immigration crackdown may reshape Republican voting in TexasPresident Trump's mass deportation operations and immigration enforcement actions could reshape the way Texans vote. CBS News' Camilo Montoya-Galvez spoke with voters and officials about that.CBS News · 22 Oct, 23:16

In this story: Donald Trump · Roy Snipes · Texas · Rio Grande Valley · La Lomita Catholic Chapel · Immigration and Customs Enforcement

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