ICE Raids Can Revive Democrats’ Multiracial Coalition
Originally published in The Hill on February 15, 2026.
In recent weeks, Americans have been shocked by the harsh, and sometimes lethal, ICE raids fanning across U.S. cities. Democrats, independents and Republicans alike are turning away from President Trump’s violent and chaotic immigration enforcement. While the administration tries to defuse this crisis, Trump’s slumping poll numbers show this is a major concern for Republicans during a critical election year.
Democrats must seize this opening to rebuild their flailing electoral coalition to win in 2026 and beyond. Indeed, this moment is a vivid reminder that Latinos are just like other racial “minorities” — threatening and expendable when White Republicans consider it politically convenient. Democrats have an opportunity to respond with a revitalized multiracial coalition where Latinos are a central partner by highlighting the similarities that connect all people of color across the U.S.