By Alexandra Momot
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Immigration has been a critical issue since the 2024 U.S. Presidential campaign and the last presidential debate in September 2024. As both the candidates, democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican nominee President Donald Trump, are making the final push on their campaign trail before voting day on November 5, members of the Hispanic immigrant community have varying emotions surrounding comments made by presidential candidates.
In response to the last presidential debate, Spanish professor at Towson University, Francisco Martínez Ibarra, said, “The Hispanic population in the US is very diverse.” This affects the general public opinion of political issues. The Latino immigrant population is diverse not only in countries of origin but also in political opinion. As Professor Martínez Ibarra stated, “In Florida, in general, it seems the Hispanic population tends to support the Republican party because this population is against the communist government in Cuba.” This diversity can cause differences in opinion in the larger Latino community. Diversity in other areas, such as generational differences and access to formal education, affects public opinion as well. One large difference in opinion tends to be immigration status. Martínez Ibarra says that the two main differing points of view within the immigrant community are some feel as if they immigrated legally, and others should do the same, the other main point of view is that newly arrived immigrants are getting paid even less than immigrants who arrived earlier.
As Martínez Ibarra stated, members within immigrant communities have varying opinions about the state of American politics as well as the views of the candidates. Some people don’t have positive outlooks on the future of American politics, and do not see change for immigrants coming realistically in the future.
On the issue of mass deportations, Maria Nuñez, an immigrant from Mexico currently living in Wilmington, DE, said, “Mass deportations aren’t needed.” She continued that, “Instead of trying to stop immigration, they should be providing more effective ways to aid them, but also decrease the number of people coming.” When asked about both candidates, she feels that she didn’t like what either said about immigration, and she doesn’t think much will change with policy. When asked about Trump’s comments about immigrants eating cats and dogs, she dismissed the remark as “ridiculous.”
Throughout the diverse population of immigrants in America, political opinions change drastically depending on region, country of origin, education, and immigration status.
Immigrants in America today face a unique challenge regarding their vote and their views on politics. Their votes are valuable, and candidates on both sides are trying to sway the demographic either way. Voting day is Tuesday, November 5. Click here for more information about voting in Maryland.
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