Hot Dog Vendor Fears Impact of Immigration Policy on Business.
Phoenix, Arizona – For 33 years, Aureliano Dominguez has operated his hot dog stand along a bustling street in Phoenix. A legal immigrant and U.S. citizen, he supports the deportation of undocumented immigrants involved in criminal activities.
“There are bad apples everywhere,” Dominguez told CBS News. “We should remove the bad apples.”
However, Dominguez is concerned that large-scale deportations, as proposed by former President Donald Trump, could harm his business and others like it.
“People might think it’s just a hot dog stand,” Dominguez explained, “but it’s a domino effect. These people spend money, they spend their paychecks.”
The debate over securing the U.S.-Mexico border and handling immigration—legal and illegal—remains a top concern for voters. A CBS News poll conducted in May revealed that 52% of Arizona voters believe recent immigrants from Mexico and Latin America have worsened life in the state, up from 35% in July 2020.
Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris offer starkly different solutions. Trump, who has previously spread misinformation about crimes committed by immigrants and used derogatory language, has promised to use the military to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants.
“These people have to be removed and sent back to their home countries,” Trump said during a speech on September 27.
A CBS News poll last month showed 53% of voters support Trump’s plan, while 47% oppose it.
Harris, advocating for more border security funding and a legal pathway to citizenship for some undocumented migrants, has strongly criticized Trump’s proposal.
“How do they plan to do that?” Harris asked during a speech at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in Washington, D.C., on September 18. “Massive raids? Massive detention camps? What are they talking about?”
John Ladd, a Republican rancher and Trump supporter, also questioned the feasibility of such mass deportations.
“How are they going to round up 20 million people?” Ladd asked.
Ladd, who sees people crossing the border illegally onto his 16,000-acre ranch daily, supports tougher immigration policies.
“This is my land,” Ladd said. “This is my privacy. This is America. Don’t mess with me.”
Yet, Ladd believes that law-abiding immigrants should be allowed to stay.
“If they’re here and being productive, there should be some consideration,” he said.
Dominguez remains uncertain about how he will vote. He’s heard promises from Democrats to fix immigration for years but feels no progress has been made.
“I’m a registered Democrat, but I’m not 100% sure,” Dominguez said. “They promise, and nothing has changed. So what’s the difference?”
Related topics:
- Putin Increases Visa-Free Access for Georgians in Russia
- Poland Strengthens Visa Regulations Following Investigation into Previous Government’s Cash-for-Visa Scandal
- Immigration: Trump and Harris’ Views Explained