Democrats are getting arrested, detained, and censured all in the name of protesting President Donald Trump‘s policies, but the theatrics run the risk of backfiring.
From a local mayor to a sitting senator, Democrats have used more confrontational tactics to stand up to Trump’s mass deportation operations, which have resulted in lawmakers getting handcuffed or criminally charged. Sitting governors and members of Congress have also dared the Trump administration to arrest them to make political points of defiance.
It’s part of a broader strategy by Democrats to show their base they are doing something to stand up to Trump’s “tyranny” at a time when they are virtually powerless in Washington and have few legislative ways to check Trump’s actions.
While images of lawmakers detained can ignite the base and amplify their accusations of Trump’s executive overreach, political strategists say the strategy is risky as one to win back voters, especially if it involves defending illegal immigrants.
Republicans have quickly leaped on recent Democratic run-ins with law enforcement over immigration as “political theater” and an attempt to gain a few moments in the spotlight. And some Democrats agree.
“If showing up at a courthouse and genuinely helping people who have committed no other crime than trying to come here to work, send their kids to school, pay taxes, and be Americans, then, yes, it is good to advocate,” Democratic strategist Jon Reinish said.
“However, if you are doing it to insert yourself into the news cycle or be a performance artist, that is not helpful, and that’s something that any American can see through and is exploitative and disingenuous,” Reinish added.
But other strategists argue that protesting outside of immigration detention centers is “absolutely the right approach” and can actually get the young, grassroots voters eager for change and fresh blood to be on the side of Democrats.
“Democrats and Democratic leadership, more importantly, need to get into the street,” strategist Hank Sheinkopf said. “[Sen.] Bernie Sanders is not a young guy, but he’s revered by the younger people. Why? Because he’s in the street. He’s taking on the powerful. He’s taking on Trump. Failure to engage in direct action makes the Democrats look old and out of touch.”
Democrats’ M.O. of loud and proud may backfire on the party
Democrats have a long way to go to rebuild trust among voters after the elections last November, as new polls show the party with high disapproval ratings. With no governing power, the party is solely dependent on loud messaging and the hope that Republicans shoot themselves in the foot.
At Trump’s joint address before Congress, Democrats wasted no time protesting the president’s remarks. Several wore T-shirts with the message “No Kings Live Here” and walked out of his address. Others held up signs that stated “False” or “That’s a lie!” Rep. Al Green (D-TX) famously stood up, waving his trademark cane and yelling, “No mandate!” at the president.
Republicans had accused Green of behaving like a “child,” and 10 Democrats voted with all of the House GOP to censure the Texas Democrat. Several Democrats had said in the aftermath that the explosive outburst by Green and others may not be the best look for the party, despite agreeing with his intentions.
In the months since the address, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and deporations of illegal immigrants have given Democrats a soapbox to stand on, but it also presents the party with a problem: Do Democrats fight to release all immigrants, including those who may have committed crimes, in the name of fighting against Trump and his “authoritarian” policies?
Many household party names, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Govs. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) and Gavin Newsom (D-CA), have adopted the “arrest me” rallying cry — essentially kick-starting a standoff between Democrats and the Trump administration after border czar Tom Homan and Trump threatened to arrest lawmakers for not adhering to federal immigration laws.
Since the deportations from ICE have increased, several Democrats have attempted to gain entry to the facilities or prisons. Some were denied access, while others, such as Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), have been charged and indicted for allegedly assaulting law enforcement. McIver could face up to 17 years in prison if found guilty.
Republicans have latched on to these incidents as another argument that the GOP is the party of law and order. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) visited ICE’s field office in Chicago on Wednesday, praising the “understaffed” and “overwhelmed” officials.
“We came here to make sure that these brave men and women that serve in ICE, who are protecting our communities and upholding federal law, I want to make sure that they know that Republicans have their back,” Johnson said on Fox News’s America’s Newsroom Wednesday.
“And we want them to know that even though assaults on ICE officers have risen by 413% just in this recent period, Democrats are leading that,” the speaker added. “Republicans are on the opposite side.”
Democrats have warned members of their party to remain peaceful, otherwise they will be at the risk of playing into Trump’s hands that the party is out of control and without a cohesive message — a longtime GOP narrative that helped them secure majorities in Congress.
Last week, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) was briefly detained by ICE officers after he interrupted a homeland security briefing. The department accused him of doing so “without identifying himself” and performing for the cameras. In a widely circulated video, he is filmed saying, “I’m Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary.”
Democrats are largely standing behind their colleagues, arguing McIver and Padilla were conducting oversight well within their rights as lawmakers. Padilla’s arrest, in particular, ignited a firestorm on Capitol Hill as Democrats demanded that congressional Republican leaders denounce the administration’s behavior.
Some Democrats have latched on to the opportunity to campaign off Padilla’s brief detainment. Requests have come from lawmakers such as Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), as well as groups such as the Democratic National Committee, the Harris Victory Fund, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Defend Our Courts, and Resist Reclaim Rebuild.
A Democratic strategist, granted anonymity to speak freely, said he thought Padilla was operating as an “advocate” for his constituents, not doing it for stardom.
“I do think that he was sticking up for Californians who are terrified,” the strategist said of Padilla. “In the case of Brad Lander, I think that he is a cynical performance artist.”
On Tuesday, New York City mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested by ICE officers and charged with assaulting an officer while attending an immigration court hearing.
In the aftermath, Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) and Dan Goldman (D-NY) were denied access to the ICE office.
The photos of Lander have been ridiculed as staged and “coordinated,” and the strategist agreed.
“I’m sorry, so Gov. [Kathy] Hochul just sort of happened to be a block away, as did Letitia James, as did [state Rep.] Zohran Mamdani? Come on,” the strategist said. “I beyond cry foul on that one. Migrants are scared. Migrants are terrified. But Brad Lander literally just looks like a cynical performative artist who is exploiting people in need.”
Sheinkopf has been critical of the progressive wing of the Democrats and has encouraged the party to return to the center on political issues, but he thinks the protests and arrests are good branding for the party.
However, are they good for Democratic candidates, including those in swing districts or running in high-profile elections?
“Questionable,” Sheinkopf said. “Lander looks like he’s playing to an audience. The photos of him, it’s outlandish, grimacing, it was kind of not useful.”
But, he added, “there are people within his own constituency who are going to be attracted to that.”
He said that if Lander comes up second in the New York City mayoral race after Mamdani (who’s leading in polls), his stunt with ICE could be “very helpful” in gaining support from the younger electorate in a ranked choice voting setting.
But that hasn’t proven effective in other candidates’ cases. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who also protested outside the ICE facility with McIver, lost the Democratic gubernatorial primary last week to Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ).
Trying to circumvent federal law hasn’t worked for those within the justice system chafing under Trump’s immigration laws, either. A Wisconsin judge was arrested by the FBI and indicted last month for allegedly helping a man escape immigration authorities.
But Democratic strategist Brad Bannon said the arrests and detainments will “fire up Democrats” come the midterm elections next November, and that the protests shine a light on a larger issue than just congressional lawmakers being unfairly treated.
“I think it’s going to make voters stand up and realize we’re dealing with a rogue Republican presidential administration that is reaping chaos and confusion across the land. And this is not good for Trump and his MAGA supporters,” Bannon said, particularly as 2026 will be the first ballot in recent cycles in which the president’s name is not on the ballot.
In the midterm elections, the House historically flips to the party opposite that of the White House. Upcoming elections in New Jersey and Virginia will serve as a temperature gauge to determine how well-liked Trump’s policies are. Democrats only need a net gain of three seats to take the House and break up the trifecta.
Sheinkopf thinks the protests and arrests can help with that, noting Democrats will only be able to “undo” Trump by taking action in the streets.
“It’s a smart move,” Sheinkopf said. “It’s part of the party rebuilding. If they sit in their office and do nothing, what will happen for them is absolutely nothing. They can’t rely on Trump to undo himself.”
NYC MAYORAL CANDIDATE BRAD LANDER ARRESTED BY ICE AT IMMIGRATION HEARING
But Reinish is urging caution, noting that the public is smart and can tell when a lawmaker is correcting injustice or “trying to get your couple of hours on social media and on the nightly news.”
“If you are all across the board trying to apply that to people, regardless of any criminal status, you’re out of step with public opinion, and that hurts good people, and it also hurts the Democratic Party,” Reinish said.
