Trump Voters Regret Supporting Hardline Immigration Policies

Two long-time Trump supporters express disappointment with the administration's deportation tactics

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Two people who voted for President Donald Trump in the last three presidential elections have expressed regret over their support, citing the administration's harsh immigration enforcement tactics that have resulted in the detainment of U.S. citizens and the deaths of undocumented immigrants. Chris Stinnette from Kentucky and Carter Brown from Georgia say they were initially impressed by Trump's promises to crack down on illegal immigration, but have since been disturbed by scenes of federal agents aggressively targeting immigrants, including at schools, offices, and courthouses.

Why it matters

The disillusionment of these Trump supporters highlights the growing backlash against the administration's hardline immigration policies, even among its core base. As the president pushes for the 'largest deportation operation in American history,' concerns are mounting over the human cost and civil liberties implications of these enforcement efforts.

The details

Stinnette and Brown say they voted for Trump in 2024 because they were compelled by his messaging around thousands of foreigners 'coming over in droves' to the U.S. However, their minds began to change when they saw federal agents and the National Guard detaining U.S. citizens and immigrants without reasonable suspicion. The killing of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent was a particular 'unbelievable eye-opener' that 'broke' Brown, especially since Good was a white, 37-year-old mother like herself.

  • In the 2024 presidential election, Stinnette and Brown voted for Donald Trump.
  • In recent months, the Trump administration has ramped up its deportation efforts, leading to the detainment of U.S. citizens and the deaths of undocumented immigrants.

The players

Chris Stinnette

A resident of Lexington, Kentucky who voted for Donald Trump in the last three presidential elections.

Carter Brown

A resident of Atlanta, Georgia who voted for Donald Trump in the last three presidential elections.

Donald Trump

The 79-year-old President of the United States who ran on a campaign of launching the 'largest deportation operation in American history.'

Renee Good

A 37-year-old mother who was killed by an ICE agent, which was a 'unbelievable eye-opener' for Brown.

Alex Pretti

A 37-year-old intensive care nurse who was fatally shot by federal agents just days after the killing of Renee Good.

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What they’re saying

“They're grabbing kids or they're grabbing U.S. citizens, detaining them and putting them in the back of a van and not giving them reasonable suspicion as to why they're being taken away. This is wrong. The way they're going about this is inhumane. And I don't support it.”

— Chris Stinnette (The New York Times)

“I did not know that things like that would happen. I was like, I want to go and step up and do what I can and protest and be with my fellow humanity.”

— Carter Brown (The New York Times)

“The most recent situation that happened with Renee Good was an unbelievable eye-opener to what was going on and how this administration was going to handle things moving forward.”

— Chris Stinnette (The New York Times)

“People hate that I use the word 'bamboozled,' but that's the best way that I can describe how I feel. On the outside looking in, you're like, 'It was an open-book test. Everything was right there.'”

— Carter Brown (The New York Times)

The takeaway

The disillusionment of these long-time Trump supporters underscores the growing backlash against the administration's harsh immigration enforcement tactics, which have resulted in the detainment of U.S. citizens and the deaths of undocumented immigrants. As the president pushes for the 'largest deportation operation in American history,' concerns are mounting over the human cost and civil liberties implications of these enforcement efforts, even among the president's core base.