Trump shifts tactics and optics to calm immigration firestorm

The question is whether Trump can successfully de-escalate without abandoning his commitment to deport illegal immigrants in the face of protests against those efforts.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has become a top target of Trump’s progressive political opponents and others who disagree with his immigration agenda.

Democrats are poised to shut down part of the federal government over ICE and homeland security funding.

What may start with the reshuffling of personnel within the Trump administration could lead to a shift in the optics and messaging on immigration — or perhaps even a change in underlying policy.

For the last decade, immigration has defined Trump’s political career. He used the issue to distinguish himself from Republican primary opponents, including Jeb Bush, whose brother advocated amnesty for