Here and Now
Jorge Franco on Hispanic Voters, Trump and Mass Deportation
Clip: Season 2300 Episode 2320 | 5m 31sVideo has Closed Captions
Jorge Franco on a swing among Latino voters toward Donald Trump and mass deportation.
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin CEO Jorge Franco discusses a swing among Latino voters toward President-elect Donald Trump in 2024 and the prospect of mass deportation by his administration.
Here and Now
Jorge Franco on Hispanic Voters, Trump and Mass Deportation
Clip: Season 2300 Episode 2320 | 5m 31sVideo has Closed Captions
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin CEO Jorge Franco discusses a swing among Latino voters toward President-elect Donald Trump in 2024 and the prospect of mass deportation by his administration.
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A growth in Hispanic voters who cast their ballots for Donald Trump helped him win Wisconsin and nationally.
This even after Trump promised mass deportations and said immigrants poison the blood of our country.
What were the drivers for Latinos to vote for the now president elect?
And what will Trump's policies mean for them?
We turn to George Franco, CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin.
And nice to see you again, Federico.
>> Thanks for having me.
Wonderful to be with you again.
>> So we spoke with you ahead of the election.
Were you surprised the part Hispanic voters played >> I actually was not.
There was a lot of rumblings already.
You know, big concern for Hispanic voters.
Certainly was the economy, the inflation that was in some cases just staggering.
And I think that having lived that for numerous years, I think just drove many people to support former President Trump, now president elect Trump and, and of course, his numbers showed in all segments, not just the Hispanic vote.
So it was in particular those of us who work in the low income community and community development.
The pain factor is pretty high.
And I think people are looking for a new day and that's, you know, the outcomes spoke for themselves.
Trump presidency will help reduce the cost of living, even though he talks about tariffs and other things?
>> You know, and I will say that in my limited understanding, the inflation and the complexity of the factors that go into that, I'm not holding my breath on that particular note, to be candid with you.
What I'm more focused on is how do we increase the income levels of those in our low and moderate income communities, not just here in Wisconsin, but across the country?
And my work in Washington actually takes me down that path.
So, you know, already the Federal Reserve mandates to control inflation and to optimize employment are like this.
They're they're contrary to each other in many ways.
And that leaves them in a conflicted situation.
And frankly, focusing on the opportunities as a result of the job growth in America is going to be much more fertile and productive than what may or may not happen to the prices that we're all being impacted by.
>> So now that we've seen the change agents that Trump wants to appoint to his cabinet and elsewhere, do you take seriously his call for mass deportations?
>> Well, I do and I don't.
And I want to explain.
So certainly the folks that, you know, he's entitled, he won the election, certainly a resounding win for him.
And so any president is entitled to bring their staff in and bring their select and pick and choose who they want to come in and work with them, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate and all that.
We'll see how that all plays out.
But having said that, the question in my mind is will the people, many of them returning, some of them already there before during his first presidency, will they be open to objective analysis and input that helps us all appreciate what's important to GDP for Americans, because that in great part drives revenue to the government, enabling to pay its bills.
And certainly, you know, the, the, the, the debt, the, the US debt is, you know, has got to be dealt with.
No doubt.
You can't just let that continue to roll out of control.
But there are numerous factors and the question in my mind is, will individuals be open to receiving that input?
And frankly, in the community, the economic stakeholders like the farmers in Wisconsin, dairy agriculture, I mean, we've got to get ourselves organized so we have an effective message to share in an appropriate way and at the appropriate time, and sooner the better.
>> Now really, because does the need for workers in the US and Wisconsin make these kinds of mass deportations untenable?
>> The Wisconsin economy is so dependent on tens of thousands of immigrants working in agriculture and dairy, and in farming communities, and you take all that away, and the Wisconsin economy will tank.
What does that mean for the American economy?
If any one state's economy goes goes in the tank is a whole nother analysis and discussion to have.
But it's a complexity of issues and you know, we have a history of working with everyone and anyone in what we do.
And that's just the mandate I have from the people who are, you know, the board of directors of the Hispanic Chamber and our members are my task is to go work with anyone and everyone and do the best.
We can to help those issues come to light.
So the best decisions are made in the interest of the economy.
>> Great Jorge Franco, thanks
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