Trump Latin voters diverge on deportations but largely restore the president

Certain divisions emerge among the Latinos of the Swing State which voted for President Donald Trump with regard to his approach to mass deportations, according to new discussion groups with some of these voters, who nevertheless remain largely favorable to the president.

Most Latin-Trump voters who participated in recent discussion groups observed by NBC News as part of the 2025 decideers, produced by University of Syracuse and research firms Engageous And Sagosaid they approved Trump treatment of illegal immigration. And the most approved of its actions in global development as president.

These voters were the key to Trump’s victory in 2024, when he improved considerably among Latin voters compared to his previous campaigns. The president lost the Latinos of 5 points last year, after losing the group of 33 points in 2020, according to the exit survey of NBC News. Other estimates of the 2024 vote Also indicated the broad change, although some have not shown so many movements.

Residents of these discussion groups said they had voted for Trump due to concerns about the economy, including inflation and immigration. And most of them were still behind the president (all except four also voted for Trump in 2020).

“He holds his promises and he does what he said he was going to do,” said David L., a 60 -year -old Georgia voter who grew up in Mexico, about Trump.

But there were cracks, although small, to support some of Trump’s specific policies. Two voters who supported Joe Biden in 2020 and turned to Trump in 2024 said they would not vote for Trump if we had the opportunity to rebuild their vote, rather choosing to support a third -party candidate.

One of these voters, Ruby L., 59, of Georgia, said that she has so far disapproved of Trump’s presidency due to potential programs reductions such as Medicaid and because of his approach to expel undocumented immigrants.

“He was going to expel people who were criminals and have a history,” said Ruby, born in Colombia. “But I see that he expels people who work hard and have been in this country. I think it should find a way to help them stay and get citizenship or something. ”

Division expulsion

Ruby’s concerns about general deportations have underlined certain divisions between these voters, even if they largely supported Trump’s actions on immigration. Three of Trump’s voters have disapproved of his much treatment of illegal immigration, while 10 approved. This may not reflect the general opinions of Latin Trump voters, because, unlike a survey, which uses statistical methods to demonstrate what a larger population feels, the discussion groups are widening more deeply on how individual panelists see the key issues facing the country.

“Most of these American Hispanic Voters from American Trump approve of the president’s focus on illegal immigration, although they wish a more thoughtful hierarchy concerning who is expelled earlier,” said Rich Thau, President of Engageouswho moderated the sessions.

Several voters supported the deportations of undocumented immigrants, which they have committed crimes.

“Well, what are you waiting for? If you came here illegally, you did something illegal. Expect the consequences,” said Justin O., 38, from Nevada, who was born in the United States and is of Mexican origin.

“If we are not going to apply laws, why bother to have them?” said Zachary N., 40, from Michigan, who is also of Mexican origin.

Maria P., a 40 -year -old voter from Nevada, of the Puerto Rican origin, said that Trump’s attention on deportations is no different from that of previous presidents, including Democrats Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

“They have all done it, but now this is the first time that everyone is discussing it,” said Maria.

Connie A., a 59 -year -old Mexican origin, asked why an undocumented immigrant who has been in the country for decades had not tried to ask for a green card or citizenship.

“There is no direct path,” Auits Mariana L., a resident of Caroline from the north of 27 years old who was born in Venezuela and was one of the many participants who noted the way to become a legal resident, even for those who wish, can be difficult. Mariana was one of the voters who did not approve of the Trump treatment of illegal immigration, pointing to his move to revoke certain legal protections For immigrants from his country of origin.

“Changing these statutes is a bit unfair for people who have built their lives here,” she said.

Mariana and some other voters have also said that the administration should prioritize the expulsion of undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes.

“I guess they focus on those who have committed crimes and those who did not do it,” said Jennifer L., a Michigan voter, 44, of Mexican origin. She approved Trump’s overall performance as president but has disapproved of her illegal immigration management.

“There are some who come back because they should, but there are also immigrants who really go, maybe they have not committed crime,” she added later.

“He said he was going to focus on criminals and things like that. And then there are people who are not criminals who are also going,” said Oscar B., a 52 -year -old Pennsylvania voter, adding that the Trump administration should adopt a “tailor -made approach”.

Oscar, born in Venezuela, also noted that he had seen publications on a local Facebook page for Latinos in his region which warn against immigration and customs raids.

“People there, they make messages where they talk about ice in the city and not get out of your home,” said Oscar.

Ruby de Georgie also said that she had seen “a lot of fear” in her community.

“They are afraid to go out and (they say):” Do not go out if you are a citizen, do not go out without your citizenship certificate or anything because you never know “,” said Ruby. “They therefore create this source of fear in the region.

Other voters, such as Maria du Nevada, seemed to fight with different approaches to expel undocumented immigrants who have been in the country for years “give back to society,” she said.

“This is the law,” she added later, “but sometimes the law makes almost impossible for many of them to become citizens in the end. And that is what we must do too. That is why I am torn.”

“We see in their responses to what extent some of these voters are conflicting when it comes to deporting longtime undocumented residents who have become de facto American, have families, payment taxes, peaceful times and contributions to society,” said Margaret Talev, director of the Institute of Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship of the University of Syracuse, Partnership with Engagious / Sago.

“However, they still support President Trump, showing the resilience of their loyalty and how motivated they are to oppose illegal immigration,” said Talev.

Response from Los Angeles

Although there have been certain divisions on the expulsions of the Trump administration, Trump voters who participated in the discussion groups largely supported Trump’s response to protests against ice raids in Los Angeles.

Ten of the 13 participants approved the president’s decision to deploy troops from the California National Guard and hundreds of navies, several voters describing demonstrations as violent and destructive.

“Normally, it could be in a way out of the ordinary, being that it was so early in the demonstrations. But I think that given the riots (Black Lives Matter) and all that our country has gone through a few years ago, and it is in California where (Governor Gavin) is not going well at all, said Rozly that he had to go ahead, otherwise we will see even more couple.

“These idiots are trying to demolish their city,” said Irma C., an elector of Mexican origin in Arizona, 58.

The few who disapproved of Trump’s actions described them as “too early” or out of limits.

“There is a chain of command that must be followed. A governor must ask – we cannot just go, the state must ask. Now he has completely gone against this,” Justin du Nevada, referring to Trump.

“The American army should never be used against its own citizens.

Mainly positive on the economy

Several of these voters said they had supported Trump because they thought he could better respond to the economy and high prices, and for the most part, they like what they have seen from Trump so far on these questions.

Eight voters said they felt less anxious with regard to the economy compared to the moment when Trump took office in January. Only two said they were more anxious.

“The anxiety reduces eight of them feel the economy after only five months reflects not only their experiences as consumers, but also their faith in President Trump as a businessman who has become a leader,” said Thau, the moderator of the discussion group.

“As a small business owner, my costs increased under Biden,” said William A., a Georgia voter of 60 years of Puerto Rican origin, suggesting that Biden’s policies have increased the price of oil, which had an impact on “everything else”. In his opinion, Trump’s policies “increase our fuel production and reduce fuel costs”.

Mariana, the North Carolina voter who was born in Venezuela, said that she had supported Trump and the republican party because of her concerns about the economy. She said she had seen local grocery prices drop since Trump took office.

“I think inflation, the economy what they know and Trump being a businessman is exactly what he does and has done for a living,” she said.

But Jennifer, the voter of Michigan, said that high prices on goods such as eggs, dairy products, meat and products have persisted, and she did not think that Trump made inflation a priority.

“I thought it would be an absolute priority instead of renamed the Gulf of Mexico the” Gulf of America “instead,” said Jennifer. “But I hope it happens. But certainly, in Michigan, this is not the case – the prices here increased and remained standing.

A majority of voters also said that they supported Trump’s actions on trade and prices, the others saying that they did not know enough about the issue to weigh.

Rozlyn C. de Georgie said she disagreed with the president’s decision to impose prices on certain countries with which the United States had no trade deficit. But she still largely supports the president.

“I think he has a big master plan that most of us probably don’t understand,” said Rozlyn. “But I have faith that he, a hundred percent, has the best interest of our country.”