Reporter Paola Ramos sat down with ABC News to discuss the cultural vulnerability Latinos face during this election cycle as documented in her new book, “Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America.”
Ramos’ book looks at how political trauma has influenced the rise of the right in the Latino community, and how this group, in particular, is poised to shape American politics.
Ramos discusses these themes in his book with ABC News’ Linsey Davis.
ABC News: In 2020, a Pew Research Center report found that the Latino vote for former President Trump ranked within a narrower margin than the Latino vote secured in 2016. The small Latino group that is still growing in the United States is redefining the electorate through voting trends at staggering rates.
Part sociological analysis, part historical dig into the vast Latino experience, author, Emmy Award-winning journalist and author Paolo Ramos’ latest work, “Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America,” seems just that. . And Paola, was kind enough to join us in the studio. thanks.
PAOLA RAMOS: Thank you so much for having me.
ABC News: So, you really really, really, I think, to find this Latino voice that, based on my own experience, has really – it shaped that, especially, right political outlooks. Why did you decide you wanted to tell his story?
RAMOS: Well, I think because even though, if you look at the election now, I know we’re five weeks away from November and people like Donald Trump, regardless of how you identify, but people like Donald Trump who promised mass deportations, who have sort of immigrants criminalized the way that has been and the poll in around 40% with Latino voters.
So I think it’s important to understand the “why.” And I think the Democrats have for a long time based their theory of change on this idea that it’s going to be Latino voters that are going to carry them into the future, that they’re going to be the heart of this multiracial and multiethnic coalition.
And here, we face a different reality. And I think you can explain the right-wing shift through the Trump effect. But I think what’s more interesting is understanding like the way our history is, you know, the weight of colonialism, the kind of political trauma that a lot of Latinos are going through, like how everything that’s manifested in American politics is really messy.
ABC News: And you talk about the exploitation of political trauma. What do you mean, exactly?
RAMOS: So, even when we think about South Florida today, there is a reason why Donald Trump always thinks of the Democratic Party as (Communist party, communism). There is a reason why he always talks like Comrade Kamala. And because he knows that there is a segment of Latinos that has real political trauma from fleeing Venezuela or Cuba or places in Central America.
And what the Republicans have done, I think it’s great, is to manipulate the meaning of the word, where we suddenly see a Democratic candidate who is seen as a socialist, where Obamacare is seen as (communism). And that manipulation, that exploitation of political trauma, I think a lot of Latinos believe that they see the Democratic Party as threatening because they believe that it could be a communist party.
ABC News: There’s also a very interesting concept where you have people who are descendants of immigrants who are now anti-immigration and really support the kind of rhetoric that says, you know, ‘yeah, let’s build a wall.’ And what is surprising? And, and how did that happen? How do people explain to you: ‘Yes, I can come in, but I don’t want anyone else to come.’
RAMOS: I think, very easily, because they don’t see themselves reflected in immigrant stories anymore. And I think when Trump says like send it back, don’t build a wall for him and he doesn’t see himself appearing on the show.
And if you look at the numbers, then now, the way Latinos have evolved, and many Latinos have become Americanized and assimilated, and understand that if you ask, how do you identify? I still identify as Latina, but there are many others who see themselves as part of mainstream America. And I always say this, but just because we’re Latinos and immigrants doesn’t make us immune to sort of anti-immigrant rhetoric or xenophobia.
Xenophobia is a contagious and toxic thing, especially when it is fueled by fear and other words. I also found that there are some Latinos who because they themselves have experienced discrimination, especially when I think the mainstream media covers the border and includes the caravan, the study shows that anti-Latino hate crimes are actually increasing during our time. Everyone is talking about the border.
And, I think that if you combine anti-immigrant sentiment and xenophobia in some Latinos’ deep search to prove that they belong in this country, it can become a new form of extremism.
ABC News: Where do you see the direction, the future of the Latino vote, and why is it so important to understand now?
RAMOS: I think, in this election, it is important to understand whether what Trump did in 2020 is an anomaly or are Latinos really rethinking politics?
ABC News: Paola Ramos, thank you very much. It was a pleasure to talk to you. I want to let viewers know that you can buy “Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America” ​​wherever books are sold.
