As the political landscape shifts with a new administration, newly sworn-in Sen. Ruben Gallego takes a cautious approach to the looming immigration policies proposed by President-elect Donald Trump. Gallego’s stance on deportation remains flexible, as he awaits concrete plans from the incoming administration.
Gallego, who was sworn in on Friday, expressed conditional support for deporting “a certain type of illegal immigrants,” although he did not specify which category he meant. His comments came during a Zoom press conference where he stated that it is too early to decide on actions against potential “mass deportations” proposed by Trump.
“We actually haven’t heard any plans,” Gallego mentioned to reporters, highlighting the lack of details from the incoming President’s administration.
During a recent speech in Phoenix, Trump pledged to introduce a “historic slate of executive orders” on his first day in office, aiming to secure the border and initiate what he described as the largest deportation effort in American history. This plan, he claimed, would surpass President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1954 operation, which reportedly resulted in the deportation of approximately 1.1 million Mexican nationals, though this figure is debated.
‘They have not really qualified what their plans are’
The U.S. Office of Homeland Security Statistics estimated around 11 million unauthorized individuals were residing in the country in 2022. Meanwhile, the Center for Immigration Studies, advocating for reduced immigration, suggests the number is closer to 13.8 million.
Gallego and fellow Democrats are adopting a “wait-and-see” approach regarding the new administration’s proposals. “We’re not going to just automatically knee-jerk and reject anything that comes from the White House,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of understanding the specifics before responding.
Addressing recent security-related events, including a terrorist attack in New Orleans and an explosion near a Trump hotel in Las Vegas, Gallego cautioned against hastily approving Trump’s national security nominations. “In light of what we saw yesterday, we want to make sure we have the right national security nominees,” he remarked.
Gallego also commented on the potential appointment of his former rival, Republican Kari Lake, as the next director of the Voice of America. He recognized her media experience but added, “I hope she has learned that misinformation is not appreciated by Americans,” alluding to her controversial claims during the 2024 campaign.
‘They want a certain type of illegal immigrants deported’
Gallego’s views on border security and deportation could significantly shape his tenure as senator. Accused of supporting “open borders” during his campaign, he clarified, “What I focus on… is they want more border security, they want more customs and police officers… And, yeah, they want a certain type of illegal immigrants deported.”
However, he noted that his constituents do not support measures like family separations and child detentions. He expressed his intent to collaborate with both parties and the White House to meet the needs of Arizonans.
“When we feel that it’s actually bringing less security to Arizonans, then we’ll find ourselves at a loggerhead,” he stated, underscoring the case-by-case evaluation of cooperation with the administration.
Gallego is 1st Latino elected to Senate from Arizona
Gallego’s historic election as Arizona’s first Latino senator comes amid a shift in Senate control, as Republicans gained a 53-vote majority following the 2024 election. Reflecting on his victory, Gallego stated, “(There are) the thousands and thousands of Arizonans and the families that will see someone like me for the first time representing them… I will make all of Arizona proud.”
Despite defeating Lake by over 80,000 votes, Gallego’s campaign incurred significant expenses, spending more than $65 million. His campaign was bolstered by $10 million from Protect Progress and nearly $20 million from WinSenate PAC in anti-Lake ads. In contrast, Lake’s campaign reported $25.1 million in expenditures, with additional support from Win It Back PAC.
Looking ahead, Gallego aims to prioritize affordable housing and water issues while serving on several key Senate committees, including Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Banking, Energy and Natural Resources, and Veterans’ Affairs.
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