Many Latinos in the US are anti-immigrant, study finds

While many Latinos in the United States experience discrimination and feel targeted for their appearance, a significant portion of those enforcing anti-immigrant policies also share Latino heritage. This reality challenges the assumption that Latinos are inherently opposed to restrictionist immigration measures.

Latinos now form the majority of U.S. Border Patrol officers and a substantial percentage of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. This presence within enforcement agencies is not new; it dates back decades, with Latino leaders and organizations supporting deportation campaigns as early as the 1950s, such as Operation Wetback. These actions were often fueled by concerns over labor competition, as employers historically used migrant labor to suppress wages and undermine unions.

The dynamic continued through the 1960s and 1970s, with groups like the United Farm Workers viewing undocumented workers as a threat to labor organizing. Union activists sometimes harassed migrants and even organized border patrols that led to violence. This historical context highlights a recurring pattern where segments of the Latino community have supported or participated in enforcing restrictive immigration policies.

Scholars suggest that this phenomenon stems from Latinos occupying an "uneasy middle ground" in American society. Subject to discrimination, they can also be swayed by appeals promising belonging, security, and status. This precarious position may explain the large numbers of Latinos joining immigration enforcement agencies, seeking not just employment but also a sense of inclusion and social standing, even if it means enforcing policies that impact other immigrant communities.