The last moment of the presidential debate between Biden and Trump on CNN

Employment, inflation, the economy, health and crime are some of the topics that concern Hispanics most, according to the Hispanic Association. United State The most recent survey was conducted in November 2023. However, these are not new concerns. Every four years, as the country prepares for presidential elections, these issues come to light, and the memory of what previous leaders did or did not do revives the debate.

This year is no exception. The impact of the policies implemented by Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden, during their administrations, has been significant for the Hispanic community in the United States. From economic measures to changes in immigration policy, both mandates have left a deep and varied mark on this community.

These are some of the actions of these leaders that have both positively and negatively impacted Hispanics.

Trump: Controversies and Achievements

Economic boost

During the Trump administration, between 2017 and 2021, there was a pre-Covid-19 pandemic and an after-pandemic on economic matters. In the first years of his government, he highlighted the growth of the economy and the decline in the unemployment rate among Hispanics, reaching a record high of 3.9% in September 2019.

However, the pandemic caused a sharp rise in unemployment rates, reaching 18.9% in April 2020. It settled at 10.2% in September.. Some experts, such as Eduardo Gamarra, a professor at Florida International University and a political analyst, assert that positive trends in employment began during the era of Barack Obama, so Trump cannot take full credit for these achievements. “This is partly true, because this pattern started at the beginning of the century and accelerated with Obama, and clearly the rate of Hispanic employees rose administration after administration,” he said.

Jovita Carranza, former administrator of the federal Small Business Administration (SBA), said the tax reform implemented under his administration reduced taxes for many Americans, including Latinos, and support for small businesses particularly benefited Latino entrepreneurs. In an opinion column written in the Miami Herald in June 2020. He said that before the pandemic, the average income of Latino businesses had increased significantly and that support for minority entrepreneurs contributed to poverty rates among Latinos reaching historic lows during his administration.

signature Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC) It has been well received by many Latino entrepreneurs. This agreement has improved business opportunities for Hispanic companies in the region, especially in sectors such as the automotive industry.

Immigration policy and discourse

The Trump administration has been characterized by highly controversial immigration policies. Separating families at the border, eliminating DACA protections – the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program – and implementing policies such as “stay in mexico”), which required migrants seeking asylum to remain in Mexico until their hearing in U.S. immigration court, sparked anger and fear among the Latino community. Although the DACA program is still in place temporarily, thanks to decisions made in various courts, it has undergone some changes. The most important is that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) prohibits granting new petitions and does not approve petitions for new applicants. Currently, only previously granted permits are being renewed.

Many viewed these measures as symbols of exclusion and hostility. However, Trump’s rhetoric also played an important role. His derogatory comments about Mexican immigrants and other minorities created an environment of tension and mistrust, negatively impacting the relationship between his administration and the Latino community.

Impact of the epidemic

The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the economic and social hardships faced by Latinos. Although unemployment in the community was at historic lows before the pandemic, the health crisis has caused a significant increase in unemployment, disproportionately affecting this community.

During the pandemic, the $2 trillion fiscal stimulus package left many families with mixed immigration status, negatively impacting many Latinos who were unable to benefit from economic support in this time of crisis. However, there were many other Spanish families who were favored, which increased Trump’s popularity in some areas of the country.

“A lot of the popularity that Donald Trump has among local Hispanics here in Miami, for example, is precisely because of those large subsidies during the Trump administration,” Professor Gamarra said.

Biden: promises and realities

Economic and social transformation

Joe Biden assumed the presidency in 2021 with a focus on economic recovery and social well-being, especially after the chaos caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. American Rescue Plan It was a pillar of his administration that sought to provide economic relief to millions of families, including Hispanics, especially as the United States expanded. Child tax credit.

In the fall of 2023 Biden Bidnomics launched, a campaign to highlight the general economic measures adopted during his term, in which he asserted that Hispanics benefited. Investments in education, aid to schools and scholarships have also benefited young Latinos, the campaign says.

However, despite good overall economic health, inflation and the high cost of housing have caused criticism and resentment among the Latino community, Gamarra says.

Immigration measures

One of Biden’s most important commitments to the Latino community has been to protect immigrants. In the first months of his term, he granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for thousands of Venezuelans and extending this benefit to citizens of Honduras, Haiti, Nicaragua and El Salvador.

However, the issue of migration remains elusive. The administration faces a major challenge, among other things, due to concerns about the negative effects of mass migration on receiving communities. “Did he reverse Trump’s immigration policies? Yes at first. Were you able to reunite families? Yes, try not to separate them. But at the same time, a very serious problem arose as management, because the exodus did not stop, but rather accelerated.

Specifically regarding this issue, one of the most controversial at the national level, there have been recent measures and proposals by both. On the one hand, President Biden ordered executive action in mid-June that would allow some spouses and children of undocumented US citizens to apply for lawful permanent residency without leaving the United States. This is a measure that could benefit up to 550,000 illegal immigrants.

Just a few days later, in contrast to his anti-immigration rhetoric during the election campaign, former President Trump suggested during a podcast that green cards would be “automatically” granted to foreigners who graduate from an American university.

Continuing challenges

Inflation and the high cost of housing have generated discontent among Latinos, affecting their quality of life. Furthermore, the lack of resources at the border and in immigration services remains a serious problem. The shortage of federal judges and agents, exacerbated by cuts enacted by the previous administration, has made immigration administration difficult, creating a bottleneck in processing applications.

The power of the Latino vote

The impact of Trump and Biden’s policies on Hispanic society reflects their diverse approaches. Biden focused his efforts on economic recovery and protecting immigrants, facing challenges in managing immigration and inflation. For his part, Trump has prioritized tax cuts and economic deregulation, even though his immigration policies and divisive rhetoric have generated discontent among a segment of the population.

The Hispanic community currently plays a critical role in the American political landscape, and its needs and concerns remain a focal point for any government. Therefore, a few months before the presidential elections in the United States, Trump and Biden, aware of the importance of the Latino vote, are trying to entice this large segment of the population, with various proposals.