Almost two out of every three Hispanic voters in the United States, 64%, disapprove of the management of US President Donald Trump, while 41% fear an arrest by immigration authorities despite having citizenship or legal status, a survey by the UnidosUS association revealed.
Despite the disapproval, only 13% of those who voted for Trump stated that they would not do so again, while 9% were undecided about that, added the study ‘Bipartisan Poll of Hispanic Voters: The Road to 2026’.
Among Latinos’ priorities, the cost of living or inflation was the most mentioned, by 53%, followed by work and the economy (36%), housing (32%), public health (30%) and immigration (20%).
Almost four out of every 10 Hispanics, 39%, indicated that their economic situation “is worse” than a year ago and only 14% said that it is “better.”
Half of those surveyed, 50%, believe Trump’s economic policies will make them worse off, while nearly two-thirds, 65%, think the president and Republicans are not focusing enough on improving the economy.
The survey, conducted from October 8 to 22, is released a month after the shutdown of the United States Government, which began on October 1 because Democrats demand to include health subsidies and health insurance in the budget, while Republicans refuse to negotiate.
61% of those interviewed blamed Republicans for the closure and 22% blamed Democrats, while 52% said they would support a Democratic candidate in the 2026 midterm elections and 28% a Republican.
The survey reflects the political attention that Hispanic voters have aroused in the United States, where 48% of them voted for Trump in the November 2024 presidential elections compared to 51% who voted for Democrat Kamala Harris, according to the Pew Research Center.
Fear of ICE
One in three Hispanics, 33%, reported in the survey that employers have lost workers because there are people who fear an immigration arrest on their way to work, and 29% of children have missed school because their parents are afraid of detention.
More than 7 in 10, 72%, expressed opposition to a US Supreme Court ruling that in September allowed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to use a person’s appearance, language and job as justification for their arrest.
Almost 6 in 10, 59%, think that civil liberties and rights have become less secure, and nearly half, 49%, fear being a victim of political violence or that it affects someone close to them.
The study included a special sample from the state with the most Latinos, California, where 50% shared their fear of political violence and 60% perceived that their freedoms feel less secure now.
Additionally, 74% opposed ICE arrests based on appearance and language, 32% cited losing workers for fear of detention, and 30% reported children missing school for fear of immigration raids.
82% of Latinos in the state expressed their “deep concern” that Congress is not fulfilling its role of being a counterweight to the Trump Executive.
The survey, by the BSP Research firm, was conducted among 3,000 Hispanics nationwide through calls, text messages and digital panels, with a margin of error of 1.8%.
