Majority of Miami Latinos Believe U.S. Economy is Worsening, Survey Finds

A significant majority of Latino workers in Miami, 77%, believe the U.S. economy is deteriorating, according to a new report by the Unite Here union. The survey, which polled 2,381 Latino individuals from various countries of origin, also revealed widespread dissatisfaction with current immigration policies.

Concerns about the rising cost of living are paramount. The report indicates that 88% of respondents expressed a high level of worry regarding transportation and gasoline costs, followed closely by food prices (85%), housing and utilities (78%), and medical expenses (67%). Flor Ramirez, a Unite Here member and airport worker, noted that the surge in prices, particularly rents, was a primary concern voiced during door-to-door surveys.

The poll, conducted between March and June 2026 in Miami-Dade County, found that 58% of participants were disappointed with immigration policies, and 19% were angry. This sentiment arises amid a context where the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Miami leads the nation in Trump administration arrests, with over 41,000 detentions since early 2025.

In response to these economic and immigration concerns, 82% of those surveyed indicated support for rent control measures, and 67% favored increasing taxes on millionaires and billionaires. The findings come as the Latino vote gains increasing attention, particularly after Donald Trump secured 48% of the Hispanic vote in the 2024 election, a historical high for a Republican candidate in recent memory.