Maryland’s Latino Republican community is wrestling with President Trump’s immigration enforcement as the 2026 midterm elections approach. A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Oct. 5 found that just 26% of Hispanic registered voters intend to vote Republican in November, down sharply from the 48% support the former president enjoyed in 2024.
Local leaders voice concern
Juan Leo Salazar, president of the Latin Republican Organization of Maryland, told CNS that many Latino voters are “going the other way.” He added, “This administration, Mr. Trump, is overdoing it a little bit,” referring to the surge in ICE arrests.
Data from the Deportation Data Project shows ICE arrests in Maryland more than doubled between Jan. 20 and March 10, 2026, compared with the same period a year earlier. Videos of masked agents detaining individuals have circulated online, fueling the debate.
Economic worries compound the issue
Gabriela Lemus, executive director of the nonpartisan Maryland Latinos Unidos, said some Latino voters who backed Trump for a stronger economy now regret their choice after seeing what she described as “punitive actions” against the community. She warned that many may simply stay home on Election Day.
“The more conservative Latino is not necessarily comfortable with the Democrat, but they’re not going to vote for Trump, so they may not turn out,” Lemus said.
Trump supporters push back
Other Latino Republicans remain steadfast. Alfonso Talavera, chair of the Maryland GOP Hispanic & Latino Outreach Committee, argued that the president is simply enforcing the law. “A law is a law,” he said, likening immigration enforcement to a police officer issuing a DUI citation.
Josephine Salazar, a Republican candidate for Montgomery County Council District 5, omitted immigration from her platform, calling it “a hot, hot, hot issue.” She emphasized that voters care about families, churches, and food, and that many Latino families are burdened by rising grocery and gas prices.
Family values and security remain key
Latino leaders cited President Ronald Reagan’s 1986 immigration reform as a historic example of balanced policy. They also noted that security concerns—particularly fears about drug trafficking from Mexico, Central America, and South America—continue to drive support for the Republican Party.
“Many Hispanics told me they voted for President Trump because they were concerned about security,” Josephine Salazar said.
Looking ahead to the midterms
The poll’s findings suggest a downward trend for Trump among Maryland’s Hispanic electorate, but the numbers also show a sizable portion—52%—still leaning Democratic, indicating a competitive environment. Both parties will need to address the economic pressures on large families, as Lemus highlighted a recent Maryland Latinos Unidos survey showing households choosing between food and utility bills.
As the midterms near, Maryland’s Latino Republican leaders say the outcome will hinge on whether the administration can balance firm immigration enforcement with the economic and family‑centered concerns that originally attracted many voters to the GOP.
Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.
