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Some Latino immigrants in California’s Heartland are supporting Trump’s views on border control. They feel that Trump’s criticisms of undocumented immigrants are mainly aimed at recent asylum seekers, rather than their own community.
Written by Orlando Mayorquín and Christina Morales
Orlando Mayorquín provided updates from Fresno, California, while Christina Morales reported from New York City.
Upon arriving in the United States over 25 years ago, José Pérez Gómez started making money by selling furniture he made himself on the streets of Fresno, California. Over time, he expanded this small business into a physical store, which enabled him to support his family and send his two daughters to college.
At the age of 49, Mr. Pérez Gómez was able to vote in his first presidential election four years ago. He chose to vote for Joseph R. Biden Jr. instead of Donald J. Trump because he was bothered by Trump’s negative comments about Latinos and other people of color.
However, on this occasion, he mentioned that he cast his vote for Mr. Trump.
The Democratic party believed that President Trump’s promise of widespread deportations and negative rhetoric towards immigrants would alienate Latino voters nationwide, particularly those personally affected by undocumented family members or friends.
Mr. Pérez Gómez prioritized his personal economic struggles over other concerns. He also mentioned that many immigrants in California’s Central Valley shared Mr. Trump’s belief that Democrats had allowed too many people to enter the country through the promise of asylum. These immigrants had family and friends who had worked in the fields and paid taxes for years without a legal way to obtain citizenship.
"Mr. Pérez Gómez expressed concern about the sudden influx of millions of people who have been granted all rights without having made any contributions to the country. This has led to a sense of betrayal among many individuals."
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