New Border Governors Plan Joint Compact as Trump Promotes Miller
Four southern states with new Democratic leadership intend to coordinate on border security and asylum, while the White House elevates Stephen Miller to chief of staff.
By Jack Thompson ·
Voters in the southern border region have shifted their political alignment. In the recent midterm elections, Latino voters who supported President Donald Trump in 2024 returned to the Democratic column. This shift helped elect Texas's first Democratic senator since 1988 and its first Latina governor. Democrats also secured governorships in all four southern border states and won every southern border congressional district.
The election results suggest that many voters prefer a secure border without the aggressive enforcement tactics associated with the current administration's mass deportation campaign. Over the past two years, the administration reduced border crossings but faced backlash from its enforcement methods. The new state leadership now holds a platform to shape policies that directly affect local communities.
President Trump responded to his midterm losses by appointing Stephen Miller to White House chief of staff. Miller previously designed the mass deportation strategy. Despite this move, Trump told Ross Douthat on 60 Minutes that he was open to an immigration deal with Democrats. He recorded that interview before Miller’s appointment. A day later, Trump walked back the comment, stating that his policy had not changed and that there would be no amnesty for undocumented immigrants.
The four new Democratic governors are planning to develop a border security compact. This agreement will set shared priorities for state-level border operations, economic development, and asylum reform. The governors also intend to prepare for future migration emergencies. They plan to use this compact to pressure Congress and the administration for action. The strategy involves working with federal officials and Mexico to show that Democrats will not tolerate chaos at the border while advancing a new system for seeking humanitarian protection.
In Congress, Democrats face limits on their ability to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE received more than $113 billion in multi-year funding over the last two years. Congress cannot remove this funding without new legislation and a veto-proof majority. Democrats can use their oversight power to expose abuses and hold the administration accountable. They also plan to introduce legislation tailored to specific state and district needs rather than waiting for a single comprehensive bill.
One proposed measure is the American Dream and Promise Act, a House bill that creates a pathway to permanent residence and citizenship for Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status holders. Representative Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico introduced the Careworker Visa Act months before winning reelection. His bill creates new visas for careworkers and allows eligible undocumented workers already in the United States to obtain legal status. Other proposals include legislation to grant legal status to families of service members and to allow states to request more visas for industries facing labor shortages.
The administration and Congress will continue to navigate these competing interests. The new governors will push for a system that brings in needed workers while providing legal status to those already doing the jobs. This approach aims to address shortages in housing construction and child care. The legislative process will test whether Democrats can build a veto-proof majority or persuade Trump to sign targeted bills.
