Juan

Across interviews, Juan consistently returned to immigration as both a moral and personal issue, showing strong empathy for migrants and border communities while recognizing his own privilege as a U.S.-born citizen. He criticized how immigration policy had become politicized and detached from the realities of people contributing to their communities, emphasizing that many undocumented individuals were productive and committed members of society. While he appreciated Democratic values like social support, welfare, and equity, he expressed frustration with the party’s execution, describing a “hero complex” and messaging that felt overly polished or condescending. He admired leaders like Barack Obama for their competence and moral clarity, and while he remained sharply critical of Trump’s deportations and overreach, he acknowledged certain wins, like the ceasefire in Gaza. 

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Our initial interviews were conducted in participant’s homes, and lasted approximately 3 hours. The follow up interviews were conducted remotely via Zoom, and lasted around 30 minutes. The following are shortened clips from these interviews.

Juan focused heavily on the consequences of the government shutdown and the disruptive impact of ICE raids and aggressive enforcement tactics. While he supported immigration solutions that maintained order, he was consistently critical of militarized responses, such as National Guard deployments in cities, which he viewed as excessive and counterproductive. Instead of these punitive measures, Juan raised the importance of practical investments — healthcare, social programs, and local governance — as more effective ways to strengthen communities. This was what he consistently expressed he hoped to see from leaders: competence, ethics, and actions that actually improved people’s lives.

Juan expressed growing frustration with the GOP for failing to deliver what he believed they promised during the 2024 campaign, and developed a stronger lean toward Democrats — especially in light of Democratic victories in 2025 as Democrats dominated those contests. He attributed Latinos shifts away from the Republican Party to increasingly aggressive ICE raids affecting innocent people, Trump’s leadership style, and the ongoing government shutdown, all of which clashed with his values. While Juan’s 2024 vote for Trump was rooted in pragmatism and a desire for productive disruption, his reaction throughout 2025 suggested that what once felt like “tough leadership” was increasingly registering as instability, overreach, and broken trust.

Juan returned repeatedly to affordability as a defining issue, describing rising utility costs and the end of ACA subsidies as evidence of broken promises and government failure. He framed these developments not just as policy disappointments, but as proof that working families were being deprioritized despite constant political messaging about economic relief. These frustrations pushed him further toward voting for Democrats in the 2026 midterms, marking a clearer shift than in earlier interviews. Yet even as he leaned toward Democrats, Juan expressed exasperation with how Democrats engaged within the party, questioning why they seemed harsher on each other than on Republicans.