As we get closer to the upcoming 2020 presidential elections, as Latinos we must unite and with our vote say enough is enough to the Trump-Pence duo who have only demonstrated to promote a divisive rhetoric and the politics of doing nothing for our community.
Latinos are already more than 60 million or almost 20 % of the American population and contribute 32 million people to the list of eligible voters in the next presidential election.
After the most recent democratic primary, the curtain has come down and voters decided that Joe Biden would be the democratic nominee for President of the United States along with Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate for Vice President of the United States.
Now, with the upcoming the presidential election approaching, where does our community presently stand? Which presidential candidates represent the best interests of our community? Joe Biden and Kamala Harris or Donald Trump and Mike Pence?
Republicans know that for this 2020 electoral cycle they must recuperate the Latino vote from the democrats, who gave Secretary of State Hillary Clinton a large advantage with 66% of their vote in 2016 despite of only close to 48% of registered Latinos having participated in said election.
Let us remember that right after the republican defeat in 2012, the Republican National Committee published the famous report known as the autopsy or republican guide towards the next election where they issued various recommendations and actions to take back the White House in 2016.
Almost 8 years to the day from that report and after a republican convention nominated President Trump again, it is important to point out that said autopsy revealed that the historically low performance of the Republican Party with respect to Latino voters in 2012 was due to having adopted political positions such as Mitt Romney’s focus on self-deportation. The report recommended that the republican party approve a comprehensive immigration reform:
“We should embrace and defend comprehensive immigration reform…If the Hispanic-American hears that the Republican Party does not want them in the United States, they will not pay attention to our following phrase. No matter what we say about education, work or the economy; if Hispanics think that we don’t want them here, they will close their ears from our policies. Basically, Hispanic voters are telling us that the position of our party in regard to immigration has become a test of fire, which measures whether we accept them with a welcome or if we close the door on them.”
Said recommendation was left forgotten by republican leaders in Washington as they clearly failed in the past years despite of having the executive branch and a majority in the legislative branch to implement the only positive political recommendation towards the Latino community: Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
The past chairman of the RNC, Reince Priebus stated after the publication of said report: “What must be acknowledged, which is an absolute truth, is that there is consensus within the republican caucus that a serious immigration reform is about to occur… Doing nothing is not an option”.
However, “doing nothing” has been the current position of the Republican party and its presidential candidates Trump and Pence during the past 4 year. An example of this is that the present administration, did not present for the first time in many decades, a comprehensive platform and a detailed plan of its 2020 commitments to Latinos and voters in general.
We must not forget how Trump has not only attacked our community but has supported extremist groups and calling white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, “very good people” and questioned the capacity of a judge of Hispanic origin. Donald Trump and Mike Pence have not only opted to continue the politics of “doing nothing” for the Latino community, but they have totally opposed our agenda.
First, they started and have continued with a divisive rhetoric by calling immigrants criminals and rapists, immediately opposing a comprehensive immigration form which would guarantee a path towards American citizenship for more than 11 million Latinos. Utilizing his executive authority Trump attempted to eliminate the DACA and DAPA programs which help over 4 million Latino families, they have opposed a minimum wage of 15 dollars per hour which would help Latino families get ahead and lastly, and not less important, they have appointed and have promised to continue appointing conservative judges to the Supreme Court who will take decisive decisions which could impede policies in favor of the Latino community from moving forward.
On the other hand, the contrast is evident, both Biden and his running mate Harris have demonstrated a consistent commitment with the Latino community. Biden and Harris have already expressed their support for a Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill.
During the first 100 days of the Biden-Harris administration, a commitments exists to immediately revert the cruel and senseless policies of the Trump administration which separates parents from their children at our border, including ending up with the judgements of parents for minor immigration offenses as a tactic of intimidation, and shall make it a priority to reunify these children who are still separated from their families. Additionally, the bad administration of the exile program, which feeds violence and chaos at the border and humanitarian resources at the border will increase through public-private initiatives.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris firmly believe in a comprehensive immigration reform plan that will not only assure a path towards American citizenship for millions but will also strengthen the economy in general. A report published by the Center for American Progress estimates that a comprehensive immigration reform would increase the economic activity in Virginia by 16 billion dollars during the next decade.
The past 4 years have represented great challenges for the Latino community, particularly due to the great obstruction by republicans in Congress who have detained measures in favor of our community such as the increase in minimum salary and the comprehensive immigration reform, among others. Where there is no doubt is that only Biden-Harris have the commitment to complete the inconclusive agenda of the Latino community.
From carrying out a comprehensive immigration reform within the first 100 days of its administration; expanding the benefits of DACA and DAPA to protect thousands of young dreamers that Trump and Pence attempted to eliminate since their first day, create a more prosperous economy with more jobs for Latinos which includes increasing the federal minimum wage to 15 dollars per hour; continue eliminating the barriers which impede Latinos from acquiring their own home; making college education possible, not only for the privileged children of Trump and Pence but also for Latinos and all those who cannot afford it.
From continuing to expand the federal health reform of President Obama, which has made the coverage of more than 4.2 million Latinos possible, to also having a plan to extend a path towards equality and treating with dignity and respect the 3.2 million American citizens in Puerto Rico who have been forgotten and treated as second class citizens by Trump and Pence. The Biden-Harris administration will be ready to bring results from day one.
Today, during these times of great challenges for our community, it is not the moment to bet and much less risk losing by going out to vote for such radical and extremist candidates like Trump and Pence who not only failed our community with a poor response to COVID-19 causing thousands of deaths but they also totally oppose the agenda of our community. Our community needs to support the candidates with the best record, the experience to guarantee results and a plan which will without a doubt provide Latino families with a seat at the table as a priority.
With Biden and Harris in the White House, the Latino community will not only have allies to move our agenda forward, but also advocates who will fight tirelessly to finally complete the inconclusive agenda of the Latino community from Washington, DC.
As we closer to the upcoming 2020 presidential elections, as Latinos we must unite and with our vote say no more to the Trump-Pence duo who have only demonstrated the continuation of the divisive rhetoric and policies of doing nothing for our community.
Our only true option is to massively mobilize for the only candidates who have promised to fight and put our community first: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. This is why I am with them and we hope that this next November 3rd, you will register and show how with your vote, you are with them too.
By Anthony Carrillo Filomeno, @LcdoCarrilloD51, Co-founder and Former Chairman of the Young Democrats of America National Hispanic Caucus, Attorney in Puerto Rico and presidential delegate to Joe Biden.