Massachusetts Democrat Moulton Criticizes Party’s Lack of Coherent Immigration Strategy

Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton said Tuesday that his party has failed to articulate a substantive immigration policy, instead leaning almost entirely on criticism of President Donald Trump’s approach. Speaking on MSNBC’s “Money, Power, Politics,” Moulton acknowledged the strategic vulnerability facing Democrats as they seek to compete on the issue.

During town halls across Massachusetts, Moulton described testing voter sentiment on the matter. He reported that when asking constituents whether they opposed Trump’s immigration enforcement, nearly universal hands went up in the room—a response he said he had documented across thousands of conversations.

Moulton argued that Democrats have been reactive rather than proactive on major issues affecting voters. He cited the party’s handling of inflation during the Biden administration as another example, saying Democratic messaging characterized rising prices as temporary rather than addressing the legitimate concerns of working families.

The congressman outlined his own immigration framework, which calls for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, prosecuting officials who violate the law, and streamlining legal immigration pathways. He noted that the current system makes unauthorized border crossing easier than navigating legal bureaucratic processes.

Moulton is challenging incumbent Sen. Ed Markey in Massachusetts’s September 1 Democratic primary. A University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll from mid-June showed Markey leading 41% to 35% among likely Democratic primary voters, with a 5.1-point margin of error.