A Louisiana Republican businessman who has supported President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda is now criticizing him and the way ICE enforcement is being carried out after agents detained his son-in-law for the second time. Interestingly enough, the businessman was also a two-time mayoral candidate who ran under the GOP, and despite the injustices his son-in-law has suffered, he remains a loyal Republican, earning him some online backlash.
Donald “Don” Nance is the businessman and two-time mayoral candidate in question. Earlier in September, Nance told Univision that immigration raids under Trump have divided the country and “increased racism.” At the same time, Nance said he continues to support ICE’s broader mission and still considers himself a Republican.
The controversy centers on Nance’s son-in-law, César Madrigal, a Mexican national who entered the United States legally on a work visa and later married Nance’s daughter. Madrigal had an approved green card case when he was detained by immigration agents in late July.
According to Nance, Madrigal was driving to work at around 6 a.m. when he was stopped. Officers reportedly said the traffic stop was prompted by his failure to signal a lane change. Nance said he rushed to the scene and found local police alongside ICE agents. Madrigal was carrying his immigration paperwork when he was taken into custody, Nance said. He was eventually released after ICE accepted his permanent resident documentation as valid.
It was not the first time Madrigal had been detained. About two years earlier, he spent nearly a year in ICE custody while his marriage-based residency case was being processed. Nance said the repeated detentions have taken an emotional toll on his family, particularly his grandchildren. He recalled one grandchild crying and saying, “My dad isn’t coming back,” describing the moment as heartbreaking.
GOP critics are scratching their heads
Nance has attempted to separate his criticism of ICE tactics from his support for immigration enforcement, something that has confused many people online. He said people who pose a danger should be deported, but argued that immigrants without criminal records should have a pathway to legal status.
In any case, Nance’s political identity has also remained complicated. Asked about his continued Republican affiliation despite his criticism of Trump’s immigration policies, Nance said, “I am a Republican on paper,” adding that he is “more a person than a politician.” The remarks sparked a wave of reaction online, with critics accusing Nance of only recognizing the consequences of immigration enforcement after his own family was affected.
One commenter wrote, “No. It was always the same leopard. You just didn’t notice it until it was your face.” Another said, “Another instance of a MAGA decision that wasn’t an issue until it personally affected them.”
Others were even more blunt. “This is what you voted for,” one commenter wrote, while another mocked Nance’s continued party loyalty: “But the Republicans are still the best party, he says.” Nance, however, maintains that his criticism comes from concern over how enforcement is affecting families, and not from abandoning his Republican identity.
