At a recent city council meeting in the predominantly Hispanic city of Hialeah, Florida, only three residents voiced opposition to a partnership with the federal government to deport illegal aliens. Even though three-quarters of the population are foreign-born, most agree with President Donald J. Trump’s tougher immigration policies.
This reflects growing support for Trump among Hispanic voters, who shifted right in the 2024 election. This change is seen as partly motivated by perceptions that stricter border controls are necessary.
Frank Ayllon, a Miami resident, expressed that while some feel betrayed by these policies, they are necessary. “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.
In the broader political landscape, Trump’s appeal in Florida has been buoyed by his stance on opposing socialist regimes, attracting support from communities that fled such governments. In the 2024 elections, Trump succeeded in winning Miami-Dade County and making gains in areas with significant Hispanic populations, such as Seminole and Osceola counties.
Hispanics have shown substantial support for mass deportations of illegals. A poll published last year revealed that around 40 percent of Latinos supported deporting all illegal aliens from the United States. Nearly half supported building a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.
