In a conversation I had with a Latino contractor in Charlotte, he told me that he was “extremely concerned” about the wave of immigrants that continue to arrive from the border. He said that his vote in the next elections would go to whoever manages to stop this “immigrant invasion.” I asked him, “How does the border crisis affect you personally?”. He talked in circles and mentioned posts he saw on social media. In the end, he confessed that in reality, this problem does not really affect him. Is the migrant crisis at the border a real priority for voters?
The extremes of each political party in the country tend to paint a dismal picture, as they know that fear can motivate voters to go to the polls. However, in many cases, these are imaginary fears.
No one is denying that there is a humanitarian crisis on the southern border, but the demonization of immigrants and the overexploitation of a few criminal cases, as if it were the norm, is only being done for political purposes.
What are the priorities of voters?
Nearly three-quarters of Americans (73%) think strengthening the economy should be a top priority for the president and Congress this year, according to the Pew Research Center’s annual survey of policy priorities released Feb. 29.
In second place is defending against terrorism (63%), followed by reducing the influence of money in politics (62%), reducing health care costs (60%), and improving education (in fifth place).
The immigration issue only appears in eighth place in the policy priorities survey, with 57%.
In the survey, clear partisan differences can be seen, especially on the immigration issue. While the percentage of Democrats who think that the president and Congress should prioritize the immigration issue has not changed in the last four years (39%), there is a significant increase among Republicans, going from 39% in 2021 to 76% in 2024.
This growing concern among Republicans is partly due to a broad media campaign driven by the party’s ultra-conservative base, who knows that selling fear (and prejudice) against immigrants can bring them votes.
What are the priorities of Latino voters?
Like the community at large, Latino voters place the economy as their top priority.
When asked what they feel is the most important issue that elected officials should address, the majority of Latino voters (54%) said inflation and the rising cost of living, followed by jobs and the economy (44%) according to a national survey of Latino voters that BSP Research published last November.
The immigration issue appears in sixth place among the priorities of Latino voters, according to the report. Additionally, half of those surveyed said it should be a priority for politicians to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and for those who have lived in the United States for many years.
Creating panic to gain some votes
There is a humanitarian crisis on the southern border. We must address its root causes, but that does not justify the dehumanization of these individuals in order to create panic and obtain the votes of a few ill-informed people. Don’t be fooled; focus your energy on looking for candidates with real proposals that seek to improve the quality of life in your community.
Don’t listen to sensationalized information. Look beyond the headlines of the ultra-conservative media and social networks and ask yourself: who has a plan to improve the economy, control soaring prices, and create decent jobs? If your preferred candidate doesn’t have an answer, it’s time to look for another candidate.