‘Latino voices will be heard’: Hispanic voters are a rising electoral demographic in Wisconsin

The Latino population in Wisconsin continues to grow, and with that growth comes political influence.  
From 2000 to 2015, Wisconsins population grew by 405,000 and Latinos, who total nearly 400,000 in Wisconsin, accounted for roughly 46% of that growth, according to a Department of Health Service report. 
The Latino community is not monolithic in thought and principal, said Darryl Morin, executive director of Forward Latino, a nonprofit, nonpartisan Milwaukee organization. I think well continue to see the growth of the Latino vote, as weve seen in the last couple years, it will jump up again… Im seeing a level of excitement and motivation in our community that I have not seen before. So, Latino voices will be heard. 
The Trump administrations immigration and child separation policy at the southern border has caused outrage, particularly among the Mexican American community. The administrations handling of Hurricane Maria and the destruction in Puerto Rico also sparked outrage, particularly with Puerto Ricans.  
However, President Donald Trump imposing travel restrictions to Cuba, reversing an Obama administration policy, has been praised by the Cuban American community. 
With four years in the White House, Trump now has a record in handling issues that are of particular importance to Latino voters. 
Fabi Maldonado, a Racine County supervisor and community organizer, supported U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, for president but cast his ballot for Biden.  
Its never been about one candidate, for me, its always been about the movement, Maldonado said. I think Bernie Sanders aligns more with what I believe in to my core, but with the Biden, (Kamala) Harris ticket, theyre not exactly what I wanted, but we can push our agenda further with them my hope is theyre open to policies that we want. 
Maldonado is in favor of immigration reform, universal healthcare and believes climate change is a major issue.  
On immigration, Maldonado is hopeful if former Vice President Joe Biden is elected a new stimulus package can be passed to provide funds not just to citizens, but to U.S. residents, which would include immigrants.  
Maldonado is also in favor of providing drivers licenses to immigrants to help provide proper training and calm fears of deportation. 
It doesnt feel like something that a first world country should be doing where theyre just picking up humans and deporting them, there should be a process of having folks become citizens in a fast way, Maldonado said. We dont have time to be waiting years to become citizens. Weve always been part of this society and Latinx culture is part of the Americas. 
Maldonado uses the popular term Latinx which replaces the o or a and provides a gender-neutral identification to people have Latino heritage.  
The overarching message I hear is they want a president that respects the Latinx culture, Maldonado said. Theyre excited to move forward with somebody who is not Trump. Theres a sense of fear, a sense of urgency to get somebody else thats new. 
Racine City Ald. Henry Perez came to the United States in 1962 at age 1 with his mother.  
Perez voted for Trump because he agrees with his policies on the military and law enforcement but says more needs to be done on the issue of immigration.  
When you come here illegally, theres a challenge there; you are actually breaking the law, Perez said. On the human aspect side of it, come to our country because if you cant stand living in your country, come to our country. I think our government needs to make a better way to welcome these people into our nation as opposed to putting up a wall. 
Perez is in favor of drivers licenses for immigrants and creating an easier path to citizenship or legal status. 
People who have come to our country contribute with jobs, but theyre also committing a crime, Perez said. Does it matter to Wisconsin? Absolutely. Because a lot of the foreigners work in our farms… its not an easy issue, but its an issue that needs to be addressed and we, as a state that benefits from immigration, need to figure out a way to make it easier and legal for these people to come across to our country. 
Although he voted for Trump, Perez feels many Latinos in Wisconsin will vote for Biden on Tuesday.  
Theyre afraid that Trump is going to make it worse for them, Perez said. And he might, I dont know. He really doesnt make those calls. Those calls are made by senators and representatives. He only signs laws into effect, but laws are made by Congress. 
But many Latino voters still remember how Trump entered politics in 2015 when he announced he would run for president and said of Mexican immigrants: Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.” 
Morin, a longtime Republican voter and donor, said when he heard that quote he decided not to support Trump and actively campaigned against him. 
Buy PhotoDarryl Morin, president of Forward Latino, is shown at a 2019 news conference.
 (Photo: Rick Wood / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Morin said in the last few years Trump has proven to be the individual I feared he would be.  
My disapproval of this president goes far beyond my policy positions because I understand people will have different policy positions or thoughts and its a free country and we should debate those issues, Morin said. But my greater concern with Donald Trump has actually become a fear as Ive seen him continuously attack democratic institutions. 
Morin said the way Trump has criticized the Department of Justice, national security agencies and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stepped over the line, which is why he is supporting Biden. 
With regards to Joe Biden, I see a man who has experience, who I dont agree with on all policies, but I do see a man who has respect for the democratic process and institutions, Morin said. Although I may not agree with all of his policies, I see a man trying to better America, not himself, by serving our country. And thats a huge difference.  
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