Many Venezuelans in Florida who voted for President Donald Trump have said they feel betrayed by the President, especially after he revoked the Temporary Protected Status of hundreds of thousands of nationals, leaving them vulnerable to deportation.
However, many other Latinos in south Florida continue to support both the president and his immigration crackdown. A new report by The Associated Press details that in Hialeah, where 95% of residents are Hispanic, only three people spoke against a new partnership between local police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a recent city council meeting.
Trump's policies could disproportionately affect migrants in South Florida, but the outlet claims that the response to these measures has been more subdued than during his first term. Some attribute this to a rightward political shift among Latino voters, as well as support for stricter border policies.
Frank Ayllon, a Miami resident, told AP he supports Trump's approach, saying he sees border enforcement as a necessity. I feel like a lot of these people are taking it very personal. And it's not personal. It's just that you've got to understand that this has been an open border for many years," he said.
Barbara Canales, brought in by her mother unlawfully when she was a child, agreed with the need to increase enforcement, saying she feels most of those arriving over the past years are different: ""That's why I totally agree that you need to take illegal immigrants out of the United States. I'm sorry, but they should do it," she said.
This sentiment seems to illustrate broader trends in South Florida, where protests against immigration enforcement have diminished. In 2017, Miami-Dade County's decision to hold suspected undocumented immigrants in jail prompted large demonstrations. Today, organized opposition appears to be fragmented. In Florida, 70% of Hispanic voters favored restricting asylum at the U.S. border, aligning with statewide sentiment.
The situation could open a chasm among Latinos in South Florida, especially considering that Venezuelans who received TPS had a legal status over the past year. This has sparked opposition from Republican lawmakers in South Florida, who argue that the move could negatively impact their communities.
South Florida Republican Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Carlos Gimenez have been lobbying the administration to reconsider the decision, the first tranche of which goes into effect in early April, Politico reported earlier this month.
The lawmakers contend that Venezuelans under TPS are not the criminals making headlines but rather people fleeing an oppressive regime. The representatives have been in discussions with administration officials, hoping to secure a policy shift before the protections expire.
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