In the heart of Hialeah, Florida, a city predominantly Hispanic, city council meetings witness scant attendance, with only three individuals voicing opposition to a collaboration with the federal government aimed at enforcing immigration statutes. Hialeah, where 75% of the population is foreign-born, along with Coral Gables, a city with a majority Hispanic populace largely of Cuban ancestry, has established agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement without much public outcry.
The increase in immigration arrests and deportations, driven by President Donald Trump, is expected to hit South Florida hard, given its large Cuban, Venezuelan, and Latin American communities. This reaction is significantly more subdued compared to Trump’s first term, showcasing a shift in the political orientation of Latino voters and an acceptance that firm border controls might be essential.
As Miami resident Frank Ayllon, a 41-year-old sales representative, put it, the perception of betrayal among some supporters needs to acknowledge that the region has had lenient border policies for years. Ayllon highlights Trump’s ambitious approach, contrasting it with what he sees as ineffective policies by the Biden administration.
Back in 2017, protests erupted when Miami-Dade County mandated that jails hold individuals suspected of being in the U.S. illegally. Such intense reactions have now splintered, aligning with a larger political shift in South Florida’s Latino demographic.
In the 2024 elections, Vice President Kamala Harris received a reduced share of Hispanic support compared to Biden’s performance in 2020. Notably, seven out of ten Hispanic voters in Florida expressed backing for reduced asylum-seeker allowances at U.S. borders, consistent with the general state opinion.
Trump triumphed not only in Miami-Dade but also in central Florida regions like Seminole and Osceola counties, along with traditionally Democratic South Texas counties. His appeal partly stemmed from addressing socialist regimes, an issue resonating with exiles and their families, along with economic policies perceived as beneficial.
At a Miami rally, Trump claimed that his immigration policies were well-liked within Hispanic communities, which he believes possess a deep understanding of border issues. Barbara Canales, a nursing assistant in Hialeah with personal experiences of immigration challenges, echoes sentiments for stricter immigration enforcement.
Canales notes that both Republican and Democratic administrations have enforced immigration laws and criticizes the notion of selective accountability based on immigration status. Miami’s Cuban community, renowned for their legal immigration pathways, presents a complex array of opinions.
Despite the obstacles following Obama’s 2017 policy change of ending “wet foot, dry foot” for Cuban immigrants, many continue to seek refuge in the United States. The period between 2021 and 2022 marked a significant Cuban exodus, reminiscent of the 1980 Mariel boatlift.
Hialeah’s Mayor Esteban Bovo underscores a collective support for legal immigration policies, further solidified by the endorsement of Trump by new Cuban immigrants like Luis Boulart, who sees the Republican party as a capable force against major challenges.
Conversely, Cuba-born Julian Padron, arriving during a previous political accord, criticizes Trump’s influence as anti-democratic. Padron, frequently seen in Domino Park, Little Havana, near Miami’s Calle Ocho, voices his concerns cautiously amid a politically charged environment.
The community’s complex stance on immigration policies reflects a broader narrative of political divergence, as South Florida navigates the intricate balance between culture, heritage, and evolving national immigration discourse.
