Congress

Democrats Wonder Whether the Lesson of 2024 Is to Shift Further to the Right on Border Security

“We saw what happens when we have a broken immigration system and people want to come to this country,” Rep. Salud Carbajal said. “It’s important to keep the asylum system in place, but one that works, not that invites chaos.”

John Fetterman

Sen. John Fetterman arrives as the Senate holds a procedural vote. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

By Samuel Larreal

December 10, 2024 05:00 AM

In the lead-up to the 2024 election, Democrats made a conscious effort to move to the right on border security. But among voters who said immigration was their top issue, Democrats still lost horribly.

Now, as the party looks to regroup after their election losses, Democrats in Congress are split on the lesson — with some lawmakers thinking the party needs to get even tougher on the issue.

“We have to reject the notion that border security is a Republican position,” Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres told NOTUS. “Democrats should be committed to the security of the border. The public demands border security. And we have to embrace that as part of our platform.”