As the results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election were announced, a wave of fear swept through my community in Los Angeles. Donald J. Trump’s victory left many in the city’s large immigrant population feeling anxious and uncertain about the future. For many Hispanics, this outcome signaled a potential return to a time of increased ICE raids and mass deportations at workplaces, bus stops or even local supermarkets.
In the days following the election, the atmosphere in Los Angeles was heavy with unease. On the surface, people went about their daily routines—heading to work, attending classes and trying to maintain a sense of normalcy. But beneath this veneer was a shared anxiety, a quiet dread about what might come next. For many, the prevailing sentiment was one of resignation—Lo que Dios quiera, or “whatever God wills”—as they braced for the possibility of intensified immigration crackdowns.
The majority of Mexican and Hispanic immigrants in Los Angeles are devout Catholics, deeply rooted in their faith and dedicated to attending Sunday Mass. Yet this election revealed a stark division within the Catholic community. Prominent Hispanic Catholic celebrities, like the film producer Eduardo Verástegui, played a significant role in endorsing and celebrating Mr. Trump’s victory, seeming to disregard the fears of undocumented immigrants—many of whom share their faith.
For many undocumented Catholics who seek solace and community in their faith, the strong support for Mr. Trump among many Catholics and Hispanics felt like a betrayal. The people they stood alongside in church now appeared indifferent to their fears, leaving them to wonder where to turn for support as they faced an uncertain future.
With over 40 percent of California’s Hispanic voters supporting Mr. Trump, this election indicates that many Hispanic voters feel the Democratic Party no longer fully addresses their concerns. In 2020, Joe Biden’s victory inspired hope for many Latino Americans who believed the new administration would address the issues most critical to them. With Democrats holding a majority in Congress, there seemed to be a real possibility for immigration reform that could improve the lives of millions, especially young Dreamers who were brought to the United States as children and long to become citizens. The moment seemed ripe for long-overdue immigration reform, a priority for Latino communities across the country. Yet as we look back after the 2024 election, it’s clear that the Democrats missed an opportunity to fulfill this promise.
Mr. Trump capitalized on this disconnect. In California and southern Texas, where Hispanic communities are predominantly Catholic, Mr. Trump achieved record-breaking support by leaning into religious values and using influential church allies to support his platform. For many in these communities, Mr. Trump’s appeal to traditional values felt more relatable than Ms. Harris’s focus on social issues that seemed secondary to their immediate concerns.
Mr. Trump’s gains among Hispanics in 2024 are a wake-up call for Democrats. The rightward shift in Hispanic politics challenges the notion of this demographic as a monolithic, naturally Democratic constituency. Instead, it signals that Hispanic voters are increasingly independent and pragmatic, choosing candidates and policies that align with their values and priorities. Republicans have made significant strides by tapping into fundamental cultural values that resonate with Hispanic voters, such as faith, family and community.
The Democratic Party has at times focused on progressive social issues while ignoring Hispanic cultural values. For many Hispanic voters, faith and family are inseparable from their political choices. Mr. Trump, despite his divisive rhetoric, tapped into these overlooked values. He spoke directly to economic and security concerns while reinforcing family-oriented and religious values, appealing to conservative segments within the Hispanic community. His outreach acknowledged these core values that the Democratic Party has too often dismissed as secondary.
Republicans have capitalized on the perception that the Democratic Party’s focus on progressive social issues has overlooked working-class concerns. “Latinos for Trump” amplified his economic messaging, appealing to working-class families and small business owners by focusing on job creation and opportunities for upward mobility. In contrast, Ms. Harris’s outreach centered on expanding social programs and promises of immigration reform. However, the perceived shortcomings of the Biden administration are being felt on the streets of Los Angeles, where people have to work harder to pay rent and food due to inflation.
Driving through Los Angeles, it is also impossible to ignore the devastating consequences of the fentanyl epidemic. Streets are lined with homeless encampments, and the human toll of addiction is starkly visible to the mostly Latino families who live in the city. Many view this crisis as a direct consequence of unchecked border policies that have enabled the surge in drug trafficking—a concern that Republicans successfully tied to their broader critique of Democratic governance. By prioritizing these concerns and framing them as issues of community safety, family stability and economic opportunity, the G.O.P. crafted a message that struck a chord with many Hispanic voters.
After this election, both Republicans and Democrats must understand that the support of the Hispanic electorate must be won with thoughtful, considered appeals to Hispanic voters’ values and concerns, not with unfulfilled promises. By ignoring the needs of Latino voters, particularly Mexican-Americans and Hispanic Catholics with undocumented relatives, Democrats lost the trust of communities that had been loyal allies for decades.
The election may be over, but the fear and anxiety many in Los Angeles feel are a stark reminder of the human cost of political decisions and the divisions they can deepen within our communities. In the wake of Mr. Trump’s victory, the dilemma for many immigrant families became not just about politics but also about a loss of trust and a struggle to reconcile their faith with the harsh realities they might soon face.
In my community, we carry on. We keep cooking in restaurants, mowing lawns and caring for children. We continue contributing to this country’s economy, even as fear and anxiety linger over an uncertain future. Despite the challenges and the constant undercurrent of worry, we hold out hope that there will one day be a fair and compassionate immigration reform.
As we wait for that day, we look toward our fellow Hispanic Catholics who supported Mr. Trump in this election. We hope they will stand with the immigrant community now and advocate for their undocumented brothers and sisters. We share the same faith and values, and we hope they will use their influence to intercede for those lacking legal status in the country they call home.
