According to the Pew Research Center 62% of Latinos voted for President Obama in the 2012 Presidential election. Polls show in this election the Republican Party has lost more support in this growing demographic group. Simon Thompson talked about the challenge with a young Latino Republican in El Paso.
http://youtu.be/7PAUzhUdkEA
“They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
When Trump made that statement during his Presidential announcement – he did more than offend Latinos, he galvanized their opposition.
According to the Pew Research Center 62 percent of Latinos voted for President Obama in 2012… A NBC News/ Wall Street Journal/Telemundo poll taken in July of 2016 showed Latino appeal has only weakened for the party; 76 percent of registered Latino voters said they would back Hillary Clinton while just 14 percent said they back Donald Trump.
“It’s coming from more than Mexico,” he added. “It’s coming from all over South and Latin America.” Cardoza said.
For many Latinos Trump’s statements were offensive generalizations. But for El Salvadorian immigrant Kevin Cardoza the statements speak to his experience.
Cardoza came to the U.S. fleeing El Salvador’s crime and drug problems.
“I moved to the United States back in 2006 mainly because of school. I started going to high school here, I was awarded a scholarship. I went on to NMSU. I got my school paid for and from there I found myself here.”
Though Cardoza doesn’t agree with all of Trump’s sentiments- he still supports the Republican Party.
“There are a lot of things that are happening on our southern border; we have human smuggling,,, drug trafficking… - but that doesn’t give us the right to generalize a certain group of people.”
Cardoza said if anything growing up in El Salvador, combined with his Christian faith actually laid the foundation for his support of the Republican party…
“Living in El Salvador- it led me to support the republican party. To give you an example they talk about gun control. In El Salvador have some of the most strict gun controls that you can find in Latin America. They are extremely strict however they are probably one of the most violent countries in the world. Many of those policies being implemented – and unfortunately they did not function back in El Salvador… so those are some of the reasons as to why I am inclined to the Republican Party.” Cardoza said.
Instead of legalizing the more than 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. Cardoza supports Trump’s proposals to bring reforms to legal immigration processes for people from countries like El Salvador.
“There has to be a process in which they don’t have to cross the border illegally. You don’t have to hide in the shadows. The process that will help you grow in this country and accomplish the American dream.” Cardoza said
Still there are many points where Cardoza diverges with Trump on policy like the proposed border wall and his position on Muslim immigration.
“To put a ban on all Muslims, I don’t agree with that but I do agree there has to be a further security.”Cardoza said.
Cardoza says Trump can’t take all the blame he said Trump is only exaggerating challenges the party already had appealing to Latino voters.
“One of the things.. I personally believe we have to change is some of the old rhetoric.’ Cardoza said “We have to realize the impact the Latino community has in the country and we have to acknowledge that’
Cardoza said there are likely many more Latinos and immigrants that could be natural supporters of the Republican Party. But he says the Republicans have more work to do when it comes to outreach and getting their message out to Latino voters.