Rosa, a long-time undocumented immigrant from Mexico, initially paid little attention to the Nicaraguan asylum-seekers who began arriving in her small Wisconsin town of Whitewater a few years ago. Having settled there nearly 30 years ago, she shared her neighborhood with some of these newcomers, who found homes in a local trailer park and sent their children to the same schools. Many also worked in the same factories and food-processing plants as Rosa’s friends and family.
However, Rosa’s indifference shifted to frustration when she learned that many Nicaraguans could apply for work permits and driver’s licenses—benefits unavailable to undocumented immigrants like herself. “It’s not fair,” Rosa, a janitor, expressed. “Those of us who have been here for years get nothing.”
Her anger is largely directed at President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party for not implementing significant immigration reforms that could help long-standing immigrants like her. ProPublica’s reporting highlights that many established Latino immigrants across cities like Denver and Chicago share similar feelings of resentment as they witness the government facilitating the transition of asylum-seekers into the U.S., granting them access to resources that have eluded them.
This sentiment contributed to a notable shift in Latino voting patterns during the recent election, with many opting for Donald Trump, who achieved a record 45% of the Latino vote. This marked a significant gain for Republicans, challenging traditional assumptions about Latino loyalty to Democrats. Trump’s campaign rhetoric resonated with some long-time Mexican immigrants, who felt newcomers were receiving benefits they had not.
In Whitewater, Trump highlighted the town after its police chief requested federal assistance for the influx of Nicaraguans. While some residents disapproved of his comments about immigrants harming their community, others echoed Rosa’s sentiments about unfair advantages granted to recent arrivals.
Among those residents is Valadez, a single mother and friend of Rosa’s, who has worked as a house cleaner. She supplements her income by driving immigrants without cars to work—an endeavor fraught with risk due to frequent police stops for driving without a license. Valadez recounted an incident where her son discovered a purse containing a Wisconsin driver’s license and work permit belonging to a Nicaraguan woman. The find deepened her bitterness about her own status: “I have been here for 21 years,” she said. “I have five children who are U.S. citizens. And I can’t get a work permit or a driver’s license.”
Both Valadez and Rosa cannot vote, but two of Rosa’s U.S.-born children did cast ballots for Trump. One son even sports a bumper sticker with an anti-Biden slogan.
As asylum-seekers continued arriving in Philadelphia and other cities across the U.S., many voters expressed concerns about immigration policies leading up to the presidential election. Polls indicated that immigration was viewed as one of the top issues facing the country, with many disappointed by Biden’s handling of it.
Biden had promised a more compassionate immigration approach after Trump’s restrictive policies but faced overwhelming numbers of immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. Critics from both political sides highlighted what they perceived as chaotic conditions at the border while Texas Governor Greg Abbott bused thousands of migrants to Democratic-led cities.
Despite maintaining some Trump-era policies, Biden’s administration introduced temporary programs to allow asylum-seekers easier entry into the U.S., resulting in hundreds of thousands being granted work permits. However, this did little to alleviate criticism from either side regarding support for undocumented workers already living in the country.
Conchita Cruz from the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project noted that delays in processing applications hindered Biden’s ability to fulfill promises made to long-term immigrants seeking legal status. As of September, there were around 1.2 million pending work permit applications.
Biden’s attempts at comprehensive immigration reform stalled in Congress amid political maneuvering from Republicans aiming to block any potential Democratic successes before the election.
Activists like Camila Chávez pointed out that Democrats failed to effectively counter misinformation about immigration and mobilize Latino voters. Many expressed fears that new arrivals could increase crime rates and threaten their families’ safety.
Trump has made it clear he intends to follow through on his deportation promises if re-elected, although specifics remain uncertain. His administration previously prioritized deporting individuals deemed threats to public safety while signaling potential raids on workplaces employing undocumented workers.
Republican strategist Mike Madrid remarked that while some Latino voters believe they will be rewarded for playing by the rules, historically, Republicans have not seriously addressed issues related to legal or illegal migration.
The Republican Party’s appeal among Latino voters was particularly evident in areas like Del Rio, Texas, where Trump’s support surged significantly compared to previous elections. Sergio Garza Castillo, an immigrant business owner in Del Rio, reflected this shift after feeling let down by Democrats who failed to deliver on promises of immigration reform.
Garza Castillo expressed disappointment over how new arrivals were treated compared to those who had been waiting legally for years: “They didn’t normalize the status of people who were already here but instead let in many migrants who didn’t come in the correct way.”
He hopes Trump will use his influence to create pathways for citizenship for long-standing undocumented immigrants: “If he does that,” he said, “I think the Republican Party will be strong here for a long time.”
Related topics:
- Utah Governor Backs Trump’s Bold Plan to Intensify Deportations of Criminal Immigrants
- Local Officials in Hot Water Over Immigration Policies
- Biden’s Surveillance Tech Innovations Could Empower Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Promises
