With his eyes on 2028, Gavin Newsom is homing in on the shifting attitudes towards President Trump’s immigration crackdown, looking to score points against his longtime adversary while boosting his own prospective presidential candidacy. While national Democrats dig in, content that attitudes towards ICE overreach will bolster their support, Newsom is going on the offensive. Moreover, Newsom’s seemingly found an opportunity to score political points, motivate his base, and even sway moderates who support closing the border but recoil at ICE agents shooting Americans in the streets. Trump’s approval on immigration, previously his strongest issue, now sits at 39% approve, while 47% disapprove per Daily Mail polling. Taken together, this data suggests that as immigration becomes an albatross for Trump, Newsom is using it strategically in order to boost his standing.