Undocumented Hispanics in Arizona share fears after Trump election victory: Video

The Republican candidate’s victory surprised pollsters, who had anticipated a close race with Vice President Kamala Harris. This is the third consecutive election where Trump’s support has defied polling predictions, sparking concerns among Hispanic communities about increased deportations and anti-immigrant policies.

A Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient and community advocate, José Patiño, expressed deep anxiety over what a Trump administration could mean for undocumented residents. “Trump is saying 'mass deportations’ across the country. It makes me question if I can truly build a life here,” he said. He added, “It’s a reminder that you can love this country, but it doesn’t always love you back. The American voter is saying, ‘we don’t love you back.’”

Some Hispanic voters supported Trump, believing his policies wouldn’t directly impact them. Patiño noted that, for some, aligning with Trump represents a desire to be associated with success and to avoid being marginalised, even if this alignment may come with risks for their community.

Angel Palazuelos, an undocumented Mexican citizen, shared that Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric deeply unsettles him and his family. “I fear being deported, losing everything I’ve worked for, and being separated from my family,” he said.

However, Palazuelos stressed the need for resilience: “We have to keep reminding people of our humanity. We pay taxes yet receive no public benefits.”

Upon assumption of office, Trump intends to launch mass deportations of millions of undocumented migrants, potentially involving extensive workplace raids and the U.S. military, alongside allocating federal resources to expand the U.S.-Mexico border wall.