Georgia Democrats On Trump’s Failed Record for Georgia’s Latino Community

This morning, as Joe Biden releases his agenda for the Latino community, Democratic Party of Georgia Treasurer Jason Esteves released the following statement:

“Latino families have been hit hardest by Donald Trump’s dangerous rhetoric, divisive policies, and failed leadership. Since his first days on the campaign trail, Trump attacked Latino Americans and our immigrant communities, and has only used his power to further harm our community. Whether it’s his attempts to overturn the Affordable Care Act, which helped millions of Latinos access health insurance, or his cruel immigration policies and efforts to dismantle our immigration system, Trump’s policies have made it harder for Latinos in this country to catch up, let alone get ahead.  And now his complete failed response to the coronavirus pandemic has led to Latino families facing the highest rates of COVID infection and highest job losses in the nation. It’s beyond time for our nation to stop these attacks on Latinos, and support a community that is vital to ensuring the United States thrives. On Day 1, Joe Biden will be ready to invest in the Latino community and make sure everyone gets a fair shot.”

BACKGROUND ON TRUMP’S ATTACKS ON THE LATINO COMMUNITY

Trump failed to address racial disparities present in the coronavirus pandemic and botched the rollout of aid to Latino small business owners.

• As Trump failed to mount a serious response to the coronavirus, unemployment has been particularly high for Black and Latino workers and business owners. As of June, Latino unemployment was 14.5%.

• Black- and Latinx-owned businesses suffered as the Trump administration botched the delivery of assistance to small businesses hurt by the coronavirus.

Trump has repeatedly stoked racial and cultural divisions to demonize Latinos.

• As president, Trump said undocumented immigrants were “invading” and “infesting” our country. He said our immigration policy should be “you can’t come in.”

Trump’s immigration policies have cruelly torn Latino families apart.

• ●      Trump illegally rescinded the DACA program and sabotaged every bipartisan immigration deal that would have protected American Dreamers, including 21,000 Georgia Dreamers.

• ●      After the Supreme Court blocked Trump’s attempt to end the Obama-era DACA program, the Trump administration announced it will not accept new applications.

Instead of bringing wage growth and job creation to Latino communities, Trump has made it harder for Latinos to succeed.

• Job creation for Hispanic Americans has slowed under Trump. 7% of Hispanic Georgians are underemployed.

• Latinos were disproportionately left out on the benefits from Trump’s tax law, and many will actually face higher taxes by 2027.

• Trump’s budgets sought to slash funding for SNAP benefits, which help about 10 million Latinos and lifted nearly 2.5 million Latinos out of poverty in 2015 alone.

• Trump’s decision to rescind DACA and eliminate protections for TPS recipients could devastate Georgia’s Latino communities and the entire U.S. economy. Georgia is home to nearly 21,000 DACA recipients.

Trump’s attacks on health care have disproportionately affected Latino communities.

• Latinos experienced the largest gain in health insurance coverage thanks to the Affordable Care Act.

• If Trump gets his way and the lawsuit to overturn the ACA is successful, 89,300 Georgia Latinos could lose coverage. The percentage of people gaining health insurance under the ACA was higher for Latinos than for any other racial or ethnic group in the country.

• Trump proposed massive cuts to Medicaid, which provides health coverage for about 32% of non-elderly Hispanics.

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