*By Christian Smith* Republicans are demonizing legal immigrants and undocumented workers, trying to scare people to the polls in November's midterm elections, said Congressman Darren Soto. In an interview Tuesday with Cheddar, the Florida Democrat said GOP candidates are pushing xenophobic immigration policies because President Trump's policies have failed to address many voters' economic insecurities. "How much in way of accomplishments have they had this past year?" Soto asked rhetorically. "Almost nothing. So they have to run on fear and division, which is exactly what they're doing." The White House is considering a proposal that would limit the number of immigrants who are approved for green cards and citizenship, according to a [report](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/now-trump-administration-wants-limit-citizenship-legal-immigrants-n897931) from NBC News. The proposal would make it harder for immigrants who have used government social services such as Social Security and food stamps to obtain long-term legal residency status. Stricter immigration has been one of Trump's signature issues, but only 43 percent of Americans approve of the administration's approach, according to [a new poll](https://www.axios.com/immigration-midterms-2018-support-trump-daca-border-wall-5d633f9a-8857-4eaa-b141-5378603f20f9.html) from Axios. That's on par with the president's overall approval rating, indicating how closely Trump may be identified with the issue. (Support was slightly higher for the president's border wall proposal, at 45 percent.) Soto said voters are ahead of the GOP on immigration. "This country is changing," he said. "We're becoming more diverse, and they're fighting against the tide." For more on this story, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/white-house-reportedly-targeting-legal-immigrants-with-new-plan).

Share:
More In Politics
What to Look Out for in Wednesday's Third Republican Primary Debate
Wednesday night is the third Republican presidential primary debate with five candidates set to take the stage. Columnist and political analyst Jonathan Harris spoke with Cheddar News to explain what to expect from a reduced field of candidates, what topics are on tap to discuss and which candidates have the momentum.
Yellen: House Funding Bill Damaging, Irresponsible
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is accusing the GOP of playing politics with IRS funding with a new round of budget cuts in a recent aid bill that would slash $14 billion from the agency in order to fund aid to Israel.
Load More