Latino voters who supported Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election are increasingly turning against him, as the administration's aggressive immigration enforcement sparks backlash. Sandra Ramirez, who broke from her Democrat-voting family to back Trump, now says, 'I’ll never go Republican again,' after witnessing immigration officers targeting migrants based on skin colour.
Trump made significant gains with Latino voters in 2024, winning 43% of their vote nationally, up from 35% in 2020. However, his second-term crackdown—including arrest sweeps in homes, workplaces, and schools—has eroded that support. An AP-NORC poll found over half of Latino adults know someone affected by the enforcement.
Pew Research Center polling shows approval among Latino Trump voters dropped from 93% at the start of his term to 66% in April 2026, a steeper decline than among non-Latino voters. This shift could prove decisive in battleground areas like Maricopa County, Arizona, where one-third of residents are Latino.
In South Phoenix, opinions are divided. Albert Rodriguez, a tattoo artist, regrets his 2024 vote after seeing ICE target ordinary workers. 'Big time, I regret it,' he said. But Ronnie Martinez, an Army veteran, supports border security and credits Trump for tax cuts on tips and overtime. Guadalupe Alaffa blames former President Joe Biden for the border situation.
As Republicans eye the midterms and 2028, retaining Latino voters—a growing demographic—remains a critical challenge amid the fallout from immigration policies.
