I voted for him hoping that the economy would improve, and now I regret it, said the man after being detained by the authorities.
A Latino-origin U.S. citizen was arrested during an immigration operation despite having his legal status in order. The incident has sparked criticism of Trump's immigration policies among members of the community who supported him.
They detained and handcuffed him without verifying his citizenship
Jensy Machado, naturalized as a U.S. citizen, was heading to work in Virginia when ICE agents stopped him with drawn weapons. They forced him to roll down the window, handcuffed him, and interrogated him without clearly informing him of the reason for the detention.
They asked me how I entered the country, if I had a pending hearing or any immigration case. I told them I was a citizen, but they didn't believe me, he told Telemundo 44.
One of the agents even mocked his response. Only after reviewing his license did they verify that he was telling the truth.
From follower to critic of migration policies
Machado voted for Trump in the 2024 elections believing that his policies would strengthen the economy and help curb gangs. But his experience with ICE made him change his mind.
I didn't vote for Hispanics to be deported. I voted for criminals to be deported, he said, disappointed.
Now consider that the actions of the administration are indiscriminately targeting the entire Hispanic community. And no longer feel that their vote represented their values.
The Latino community under pressure
Jensy's story has gone viral and fuels the growing distrust of Latinos towards immigration authorities. Many fear that cases like this are not isolated, but symptoms of a policy of "ethnic profiling persecution.
Although the incident lasted only a few minutes, Machado assures that it was humiliating. Since then, he has completely distanced himself from the policies he previously supported.
Lawyers advise caution even to naturalized citizens
Experts recommend that both residents and naturalized citizens carry documents proving their status. ICE errors can lead to illegal detentions or rights violations if the person is not prepared to prove their identity.
Machado's case, far from being an exception, has become a symbol of what many see as an excessive use of migratory power. A policy that, according to critics, has lost its sense of justice to focus solely on punishment.
What happens is that elections are not followed when a president runs... one of the votes that brought Mr. Trump to the presidency was mass deportation of irregular migrants.
He didn't vote for the criminals to be deported, he voted to deport the Latinos. How did he think Trump wouldn't deport the Latinos? This is like the fable of the frogs that wanted a King and chose a heron.