Mission’s Latinos fear Trump, but some say they look forward to better economy
Many Latinos in the Mission woke up on Wednesday morning feeling a combination of fear and anxiety as they grappled with the reality that Donald Trump will once again be president — but some also said they were optimistic about Trump's impact on the economy.
While most declined to say whether they voted in the elections –- or whether they could — they had followed the results closely.
"I feel so much sadness right now. I had to close the store early yesterday," said Diana Medina, a Mexican native and owner of Diju Jewelry at 3214 24th St. "What saddens me most is that he's woken racism again."
For months, the newly elected leader has promised mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and has accused immigrant communities of depleting social services and contributing to the housing shortage.
That message resonated with many voters across the country and Trump swept all seven battleground states, flipping six of them.
Most Latinos Mission Local spoke to for this story shared Medina's fears and anxieties. However, at least half saw something positive in the new president: the economy.
"I hope we can do much better economically with him," said Petra Luna, a Mexican native. "I think he's a good president in that regard, but I do fear deportations and the separations of families."
And Luna is not alone.
Ernesto Solis, a Peruvian native who has lived in the country for 15 years, said he's been unsuccessfully looking for a union job since 2020, when Joe Biden won.
"He's racist for sure," said Solis referring to Trump. "But when he was president I had options, and that's what's important to me. I came to this country to work."
On a similar note, Angelo Galiani, another Peruvian native in this country for 25 years, said Trump's victory will most likely have a positive impact on the economy.
"The economy was really good when he was president. A lot of people remember that," said Galiani, who added he also shares the fear of deportation many other Latinos feel. For him, however, it comes down to economic survival, and to other immigrants respecting the rules of this country.
"We Latinos have to come here and respect this country. Unfortunately, some come and don't, so I think you're going to see a clean-up of those who give the rest of us a bad name," said Galiani.
The unemployment rate went from 4.7 percent to 3.6 percent under Trump, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , while Biden quickly faced a post-pandemic high of 14.8 percent, which came down to 4.1 percent as of October. GDP increased at similar rates under both administrations.
Latinos supported Trump in high numbers — 45 percent compared to 32 percent in 2020. Other minority groups also increased their support for the newly elected leader. Asian voters, for example, increased their support to 38 percent compared to 34 percent in 2020.
And locally, too, at least four out the five neighborhoods in San Francisco that had the highest Trump support are majority Asian — Chinatown, Outer Mission, Portola and Visitation Valley.
While Luna, Solis and Galiani have lived in this country for many years, others like Margarita Flores are living the anxiety of a Trump presidency for the first time.
Flores, a Mexican native, moved to this country eight months ago looking for better opportunities. "I feel a little anxious and worried because I've heard bad things about him," said Flores, as she handed out flyers on Mission Street.
Flores added that many of her friends are also feeling the same emotions and that social media is adding to their fears. She said that she will try to stay calm and positive by keeping a low profile and by staying to herself.
"I'm not breaking the law here. I'm just working," said Flores.
Flores' case is one of many across the country that will need support and strength from the community, said Medina.
"Right now what we need is to be strong. San Franciscans are happy, hard workers and we have a big heart, so we will make it together."
