By Sam Sanchez and Massey Villarreal
Forty-eight percent of Hispanic voters supported Donald Trump in 2024. He and his party ought to make a New Year’s resolution for 2026: Listen to Hispanic voters.
Ahead of the 2026 midterms, Republicans are bleeding Hispanic support, driven by frustrations over economic hardship and overreaching immigration enforcement.
Mr. Trump won record Hispanic support by promising durable solutions on immigration and the economy. Nearly a year later, the administration is taking an enforcement-only approach to immigration, deporting law-abiding long-term workers. This is destabilizing the workforce, straining local economies and pushing up prices. Agriculture, construction, elder care and hospitality especially are feeling the consequences.
As co-chairmen of Comité de 100, a bipartisan coalition of more than 200 Mexican-American and other Hispanic business leaders, we see how these policies are eroding support for Republicans. In a recent Pew Research poll, 68% of Hispanics said their situation is worse than a year ago, and 61% believe Mr. Trump’s economic policies have made conditions worse. Approval for Mr. Trump among Latino voters has dropped sharply, with 59% expressing disapproval in a recent survey. In battleground states, Hispanic voters who have swung toward Republicans in recent years are reversing course, citing immigration and economic instability as concerns.
Immigrants are vital to America’s prosperity. Hispanic workers are the backbone of many industries. This year the U.S. Latino gross domestic product reached $4.1 trillion.
The border is finally secure, and criminals have been deported. But mass deportations of taxpaying workers with no criminal history hurt the economy and weaken communities. Seventy-two percent of Americans believe undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. for at least five years, have jobs, and have no criminal records should be allowed to stay and earn legal work permits.
Recent elections across the country have sounded an alarm: Hispanic voters are ditching Republicans. In Miami, Eileen Higgins recently became the first Democrat elected mayor in 28 years. In Passaic County, N.J., which is 43% Latino, Democrat Mikie Sherrill won by nearly 15 percentage points. Mr. Trump took the county by 3 in 2024. In Manassas Park, Va., nearly 40% Hispanic, the electorate swung 22 points to the Democrats.
This shift isn’t a blip; it’s potentially a realignment. The Republican Party’s harsh stance on immigration has alienated this demographic.
We need common-sense immigration solutions. Work permits for long-term undocumented immigrants who are contributing to our economy would be a practical first step. Bipartisan proposals, such as the Dream Act and Dignity Act, would promote border security and a dignified process for long-term immigrants and Dreamers to achieve legal status.
The Republican Party’s future hinges on its ability to reconnect with Hispanics. As Hispanic business leaders, we’re united in our call for policies that recognize our contributions and protect our families. Any political party that ignores our needs will feel our frustration at the ballot box in 2026.
Editor’s Note: The above op-ed was penned by Sam Sanchez, president of Third Coast Hospitality Group, and Massey Villarreal, CEO of Precision Task Group. The op-ed first ran in the Wall Street Journal. Villarreal was keynote speaker at a Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Strategic Retreat on Jan. 9, 2026, and encouraged everyone present to share the column with as many people as possible.
