Undocumented immigrant Gelacio Velazquez of Mexico came out to declare his support for President Donald Trump’s bid in the up-and-coming 2024 U.S. presidential elections. Even though he fully understands that Trump has had very controversial stands on immigration, such as strict measures that have targeted at reducing illegal immigration, Velazquez declared his reasons in an interview with CNN’s Rosa Flores.
Velazquez, 25 years a resident of Houston, believed that Trump’s nationalist policies could change course toward a better future for his American-born children. He labeled Trump a “racist,” yet said the repercussions of this president’s policies, wrapped around a more controlled immigration system, might prove positive for the country in the end, for jobs and income security.
“Under Biden, the economy has been bad, and I have seen no changes that really help my family,” Velazquez told Flores. “I know Trump’s policies might seem harsh, but I think he’ll bring back opportunities and stability that we need.”
His support for Velazquez of Trump has generated a wave of mixed reactions despite the possible personal risks entailed, deportation being one of them. Some have admired him for his candor in underlining an unpopular perspective for immigrant communities while others criticized his decision by putting an emphasis on the risks of lining up with a candidate notorious for his anti-immigrant platform.
The endorsement also casts a layer of new complexity on the overall debate about immigration in the United States. The Trump administration was noted for its activities aimed at trying to harden immigration laws based on the border wall constructed and intensified practices of deportation. Velazquez perceives Trump’s policies from a different angle, seeing probable opportunities for further economic growth not just for himself but for others following legal immigration pathways.
All this sets up the real internal conflicts within many of the immigrants who balance their community loyalties against their political and economic interests. Velazquez equates the Democratic Party with “nuns” in promises that they never really fulfill. He sees Trump’s policies as possibly fixing the problems he feels have worsened under Biden’s administration.
The revelation has triggered broader discussions about diversity of views within immigrant communities. Whereas many undocumented immigrants would naturally oppose Trump’s immigration policies because of their precarious legal status, others, like Velazquez, go for economic stability and the well-being of the families above political affiliations.
