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Los Trumpistas: Meet the Latinos Supporting Trump

Latino Trump supporters share why they like the candidate, despite a recent poll that showed only 21 percent of Latinos view him favorably.

/ 12 PHOTOS
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Raul Rodriguez Jr. — Apple Valley, California

I'm a proud American, I love this country, and I think it's time for America to wake up. I was born in El Paso, Texas. My father was born in Durango, Mexico and came to the USA and joined the army during WWII.

I started getting involved in the problems in our country about February 2008 because I didn't like the direction our country was going in, especially with the election of Obama and his way of leading from behind and his transformation of this wonderful country of ours.

Riverboom / INSTITUTE
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Marissa Desilets — Beverly Hills, California

I was born in Chicago. My grandparents were born in Mexico, and immigrated to the United States. I am a Hispanic conservative republican woman. I decided to support Donald J. Trump because I think America needs a better defense, and more jobs. With Trump as president, I can expect strong leadership, and the preservation of the Constitution of the United States of America.

Riverboom / INSTITUTE
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Emilio Rodriguez

I migrated from Cuba when I was 15 years of age and I have grown to appreciate, admire and respect the United States because it offers tremendous opportunities to people of all color, race, ethnicity and gender with equal rights for all, in spite of what Democrats would say.

I, like most Cuban-Americans, have been a Republican all my life and now more than ever, I recognize the need to support a candidate such as Mr. Donald Trump, who values the American dream, the independence, job opportunities and most of all the national security of this great nation. I believe that Mr. Trump is the only person that can protect, defend and save these United States of America from all the illegal immigration, the terrorist attacks, and stop the downfall of this great country.

Riverboom / INSTITUTE
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Ximena Barreto — Poway, California

I was born in Bogota, Colombia and came to the country in 2006. It's a bad period for the States, too many homeless. America, it's not a safe place anymore. Too much immigration. If you do not have a visa in Mexico you go in jail, but not here in the States. Illegals will be feed and they'll give them a house, too. And with my taxes! Many companies moved to Mexico, the taxes there are lower than here and we are losing many job opportunities. Trump is a genius with money; he has more than 500 companies. He's saying what people want to say, but they are afraid to say!

Riverboom / INSTITUTE
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Luis Cavazos — Brownsville, Texas

Even though Trump has made some controversial statements, I believe he is sincere in helping the country economically. His stance on immigration is tough, but we need to slow down, if not stop, the coming in of immigrants illegally. The numbers are getting to be more and more and there does not seem to be an end to it.

The world is not a safe place anymore as we have seen from the recent attacks in France and Orlando, Florida, to name only a few. I think Trump will address these security issues. As for the border wall, we do need to stop the flow of illegal immigrants, but Trump may have to look closer at the wall we do have and understand that it has not stopped immigration. I think he will come up with other ideas once he is elected president.

Riverboom / INSTITUTE
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Ileana Cataldo — Pasadena, California

My mother was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador and my father was born in San Jose, Costa Rica. I decided to support Trump from the very first day he announced his candidacy! I have always admired his passion about America ever since the '80s. He has been an outspoken businessman about corruption in American politics for a very long time.

We are sick and tired of the politicians who make laws that they do not have to follow. We are sick and tired of struggling to pay taxes and make an honest living while they squander our money and they live like kings in their mansions, ride in their limousines and are protected by security guards with guns that they want to take away from us!!!

Riverboom / INSTITUTE
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Angelo Gomez — Las Vegas

My family is from Puerto Rico and Nicaragua. My whole l life I have had two things I've been certain about: been involved in politics and having a strong faith in God. My main goal is to become the first Latino president of the United States and I can bring the same morals that Donald Trump wants to bring back. I want to bring my strong faith in God in politics.

Trump has created over 60,000 jobs, more than 500 successful businesses. A huge reason why I support Donald Trump is because of his economic plan to bring back jobs to America, to implement economic and doing better trade deals. I think right now people don' respect the United States as they should, and he will be the solution.

Riverboom / INSTITUTE
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Omar Navarro — Torrance, California

My family asks how I can support Donald Trump even though I'm Hispanic? Trump was my hero growing up. I used to want to be either the president or a businessman. I like his career. Even though Trump inherited so much money, he created something bigger. He is a household name. He is not afraid of who he is - he is himself. There are a lot of misconceptions of who Trump is. We want people coming to America legally, not illegally. My family came through the legal process. It wasn't easy but it's about being fair.

Riverboom / INSTITUTE
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Laura Diaz — San Antonio

I was born in East L.A. I'm first generation of Mexican descent.

I am a conservative that thinks for herself and does not vote based on the party-line stance. I decide to support Trump, because he is not a career politician and not funded by special interest groups. I appreciate his brutal candor and honesty - good, bad and the ugly. He may be extremely insensitive, but that does not render him a racist, bigot or misogynist. I like his experience in the private sector - with BOTH successes and failures.

With Trump as a president I expect better National Security through a stronger immigration vetting system. I believe building the wall is totally unrealistic and I have always seen it as more of a metaphor for tough immigration reform. I would like to see my tax dollars used to invest in additional border patrol and technology that enables our resources to better secure our borders from not only drugs, but from terrorism as well.

Riverboom / INSTITUTE
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Bertrand Usher — Los Angeles

Trump is the best candidate, he's an actual human being. He clearly shows he has bias, he has issues. Hillary Clinton she hides it through smiles, her family. I think Trump is the ultimate wake up call. People were asking for this. Trump beat the RNC system. Trump proved everybody wrong. He did the most American thing you could do. Everybody said you couldn't do it, people said the RNC would block him out. He put the middle finger up and did it.

Riverboom / INSTITUTE
Image: Trumpistas: Latinos for Trump

Elva Leyendecker — Laredo, Texas

My family is from Laredo from generations, but I have some relatives on the other side, in Nuevo Laredo.

This election is very important because violence has grown, ISIS is everywhere, not only USA but also other countries have to be aware of the danger! We need stronger borders! There are people coming from Nuevo Laredo, I don't know if they are Mexicans, Cubans, Syrians, I don't know who they are. So if they come here legally: bienvenidos! But if they don't, then, who are you?

Trump's main goal is to strengthen our borders, strengthen our army and begin to rebuild America, because America has a responsibility towards the world because we are leaders. With Trump we can be a strong nation. Trump is going to make America safe again, great again!

Editor's note: Responses have been edited for clarity and length.

Riverboom / INSTITUTE
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