By Haitian Tribune Staff
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2026 — Some Republican candidates are questioning how President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown is being carried out as they campaign in closely contested districts.
Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage, the Republican candidate for the state’s 2nd Congressional District, said Monday that immigration agents should focus first on gang members and people with criminal records. He pointed to his son’s father-in-law, who LePage said faces deportation despite having a work permit. LePage called the situation unfair but did not identify the man or provide details about his immigration case. The Department of Homeland Security said that permission to work does not, by itself, establish legal status.
LePage is among several Republicans in competitive races drawing a distinction between support for immigration enforcement and support for the administration’s current tactics. In Florida, Rep. María Elvira Salazar has publicly urged Trump to reconsider aspects of the crackdown. Texas Rep. Monica De La Cruz has highlighted her efforts to help a DACA recipient detained by immigration agents, while New York Rep. Mike Lawler has called for a review of enforcement practices.
The criticism reflects a political challenge for Republican candidates whose districts include immigrant families and voters concerned about the reach of federal operations. Trump has defended his approach. Asked about Salazar’s criticism, he said he understood her position but disagreed with it.
For LePage, the issue has become personal. His remarks show how a policy central to Trump’s agenda is prompting objections within his own party when its effects reach candidates’ communities and families.
