Mexico blames ICE for Latino vote shift
President Sheinbaum links immigration raids to Democratic gains in Tuesday's midterms, though cost of living remains the top concern for voters.
By Nadia Rahman ·
Seventeen Mexican nationals have died in the United States since 2025 while in the custody of or during operations by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to data from Mexico's Foreign Affairs Secretariat.
President Claudia Sheinbaum cited these figures on Thursday when discussing the results of Tuesday's midterm elections. She stated that immigration raids and racism likely influenced the Latino community to switch its support to the Democratic Party.
The Democratic Party gained control of both chambers of the U.S. Congress in the November 3 election. Sheinbaum responded to questions about the link between ICE operations and these results by calling the shift logical.
"It is very probable," Sheinbaum said during her morning press conference. She argued that racism and raids based on skin color and ethnic origin played a role in Latino voting patterns.
Recent analysis suggests that some Latino voters, including those of Mexican origin, changed their allegiance from President Donald Trump, whom they supported in 2024, to Democratic candidates this year.
A UnidosUS survey supports this trend. It found that 67% of Latino voters backed Democrats for the House of Representatives. Additionally, 17% of Hispanic voters who chose Trump in 2024 supported his party's opponents in this election.
The survey also identified the primary drivers of the vote. Fifty-eight percent of Latino voters cited the cost of living and inflation as their main concerns. A smaller group, 27%, pointed to immigration policies and ICE actions.
Sheinbaum highlighted specific victories on Wednesday. She noted the election of Xavier Becerra as governor of California and Gina Hinojosa as governor of Texas. She described these wins as reflecting the sentiment of the American people.
