They Fled a Dictator. Now They’re Being Sent Back.
Trump just won a Supreme Court ruling to end protections for 350,000 Venezuelans. Here’s what it reveals, and how we talk to our communities about what’s really going on.
Today, the Supreme Court sided with Donald Trump and gave him the green light to immediately end protections for nearly 350,000 Venezuelans who’ve been living and working legally in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Let me say that again: hundreds of thousands of our neighbors, people who fled political violence and economic collapse, are now at risk of deportation.
This ruling doesn’t just impact Venezuelan migrants. It tells us something bigger about how we’re treated in this country, especially when we’re no longer “useful” politically.
And to my fellow Latinos who voted for Trump, this is not an “I told you so.” It’s a moment to reflect, together, on what we were promised and what we actually got.
Let’s get personal for a second.
I grew up in Colombia. And over there, I’m considered center-right. So I get it. I get why some people from our countries come to the U.S. and want nothing to do with anything that sounds like “the left.”
In many parts of Latin America, we’ve lived through governments that called themselves socialist, revolutionary, or populist. In the name of helping the people, they ended up abusing power, silencing dissent, and fueling corruption.
So when folks arrive here and hear words like “left” or “progressive,” it can feel like a red flag.
But here’s the thing: the political spectrum in the U.S. is different. And sometimes, in trying to avoid the fear of becoming Venezuela, we end up trusting people who don’t actually want us here.
And that’s the part we need to say out loud.
White supremacy will use our trauma to win elections, and then toss us aside. It’ll praise our work ethic, our values, our “legal” status… right up until the moment we ask for the same protections and respect everyone else gets.
We are always the exception. Never the rule.
Some of us have tried so hard to blend in and to be the “good immigrants.” But the truth is, no matter how hard we try, we will always be seen as outsiders by the people who are building systems meant to exclude us. And this Supreme Court decision? It’s a painful reminder of that.
A Turning Point: Latino Voters Are Paying Attention
New polling from Equis Research shows something important: two out of three Latino voters now believe Trump has gone too far on immigration.
And among the very people who helped elect him in 2024, Latinos who voted for Trump, more than a third are now saying they feel betrayed.
That’s not just a statistic. That’s a wake-up call.
Latino voters overwhelmingly want a system that’s fair, safe, and humane. This isn’t about open borders. It’s about keeping families together and treating people with dignity.
This was never about protecting us.
Trump said he’d stand up to dictators and protect immigrants who followed the rules.
But what we’re seeing now is a familiar pattern: say what you need to win the Latino vote, then turn your back once we ask for the same rights and protections as everyone else.
Luis Patiño, a 43-year-old Venezuelan who voted for Trump twice, told El País:
“They used us to win votes. If he was grateful for our vote, what is this double talk?”
It’s heartbreaking. And it’s a pattern we need to name: we were never meant to be included. We were only meant to be useful.
So… what now?
I don’t have all the answers. But I know this: we can’t stay quiet when people in our community are being pushed out, used, or forgotten.
And maybe, just maybe, we can take this moment to reach out.
Gently. Honestly. Compassionately.
Let’s talk to the people in our lives who are feeling betrayed right now. The ones who are seeing the gap between what they were promised and what’s actually happening. Let’s not shut them out. Let’s open the door to real conversations about our values, about dignity, about who’s actually fighting for our families.
Let’s talk about the fact that Democrats here aren’t the authoritarian “left” some people assume. That’s a false comparison, and one that keeps getting used to scare our community. The truth is, many Democrats are fighting for things like better schools, affordable health care, and fair wages, not because they want control, but because they want a country that works for all of us.
They’re not Nicolás Maduro. They’re not dictators. They’re not coming for your home or your freedom.
Yes, the Democratic Party has work to do. But we don’t get closer to justice by letting fear or disinformation drive our choices. We do better when we pay attention to what candidates actually stand for, not just what letter is next to their name.
Let’s listen to the fears. Let’s ask questions. Let’s share what we’ve learned.
Because most of us want the same things: safety, stability, and respect. A chance to build something better.
And if we’re willing to show up for each other, even when it’s hard, I still believe we can get there.
This is a great one. Very powerful and crystal clear!
This is an awesome article, Sylvia. You should submit it to the NY Times or the Washington Post. I think you have a better chance with the NY Times! It is really well written. ¡WEPA!