Recent large-scale operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in southern Texas are becoming a source of discontent among some Latino voters who previously supported Donald Trump. These actions have left many, including those who voted for him in 2024, voicing regret, as reported by CBS News over the weekend.
A prime example is Benny Melendez, a construction business owner in McAllen, Texas. Having cast his vote for Biden in 2020 and for Trump in 2024, he now regrets both choices. To protect his immigrant workers, Melendez has gone as far as erecting fences around his job sites to ensure ICE agents must have warrants to enter his properties.
"If I don't put up fences, ICE is going to come onto my property and take my workers," Melendez explained in an interview with CBS News.
The Economic Impact on Local Businesses
The effect on Melendez's business has been significant: what used to be a four-month build time for a house now stretches to a full year due to labor shortages. "We are blessed to have two workers today," he noted.
His frustration extends beyond political lines: "I regret voting for Biden. Now I regret voting for Trump. What other options do we have? Neither party works for us."
Community Leaders and Political Shifts
Jessica Vuittonet, who owns a café in San Benito, about 45 minutes from McAllen, also regrets her vote for Trump, which was initially driven by her religious beliefs. "I knew he would start deporting people, but not innocent people, not hardworking people," she stated.
Republican Mayor of McAllen, Javier Villalobos, warned that his party risks losing its foothold among border Latinos in 2024. He identified ICE operations as the top concern among voters and criticized the optics of masked agents pulling people from vehicles as "not a good image."
Declining Support for Trump Among Latinos
Statistics reflect this dissatisfaction. A CBS News poll conducted in Texas from October 8 to 16, 2026, showed only 34% of Latino voters approved of Trump's performance, 11 points lower than his approval among the general Texan electorate. Nationally, nearly 60% of surveyed Latinos felt the administration had deported more people than expected. An NBC News and Telemundo poll in late September found Latino approval at just 27%, with 69% disapproving of his immigration policies.
This discontent is not confined to Texas. A Cuban deported to Africa, who had supported Trump in 2024, recently urged Latino voters to "punish" the president in the midterms. Another business owner in Miami-Dade lamented the deportation of his Cuban partner after nearly 25 years in the United States.
Electoral Implications and Future Prospects
This unrest surfaces at a pivotal electoral time. In Texas's 15th congressional district, which is 75% to 82% Hispanic and was won by Trump by 18 points in 2024, Democratic Texan singer Bobby Pulido leads Republican Monica De La Cruz with 51% to 44%, according to an October 21 poll. The senatorial race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton is virtually tied.
From the White House, border czar Tom Homan dismissed any electoral concerns: "I particularly don't care about the midterm elections. My job is to keep that border secure and enforce immigration law."
The midterms are scheduled for November 3, 2026, and Democrats are hopeful that the dissatisfaction among border Latinos will help them regain ground in Congress.
Key Questions About ICE Raids and Latino Voter Sentiment
How have ICE raids affected Latino support for Trump in Texas?
ICE raids have significantly eroded Latino support for Trump in Texas, as many Latino voters who once supported him now express regret over their decision due to the aggressive deportation tactics.
What measures are business owners taking to protect immigrant workers from ICE?
Some business owners, like Benny Melendez, have started installing fences around their work sites to require ICE agents to present warrants before entering, in an effort to safeguard their immigrant workers.
What impact have ICE operations had on businesses in southern Texas?
ICE operations have led to labor shortages, significantly increasing the time required to complete construction projects, as seen with Benny Melendez's business, where build times have tripled.