Janet Murguía, UnidosUS: ‘Donald Trump’s extreme rhetoric is fueling a rise in racism'

Janet Murguía, 64, likes to acknowledge that she has lived the American dream. The daughter of immigrant parents, she was born in Kansas City and grew up in a Latino neighborhood there.

After holding various positions in politics — serving as an advisor to Bill Clinton during his presidency — and in academia, she became the president and CEO of UnidosUS (formerly the National Council of La Raza, NCLR) in 2005.

Under her leadership, she has focused on empowering the Latino community by increasing Hispanic voter registration and participation. Her name is consistently listed among the 100 most influential Latinos. In an interview with EL PAÍS, she criticizes the direction of Donald Trump’s presidency, which she believes has been centered on anti-immigrant policies rather than addressing the economic issues that mobilized many Latinos to support him in the last election. An optimist by nature, Murguía believes the American dream is still alive, despite the many challenges it faces, including combatting the rise of racism.

Question. What did you think of President Trump’s speech to Congress?

Answer. It was no big surprise. President Trump did not address what the vast majority of Latinos and millions of Americans are experiencing today. Despite being the longest presidential address in the history of our country before Congress, he said absolutely nothing about rising prices, the stock market crash, the threat to programs like Medicaid and Medicare, and the cuts to many essential programs like nutrition and education. As Hispanics in the United States, we were left very frustrated and disillusioned.

Q. There has been much talk about how decisive the Latino vote was in the last elections. Do you think that the measures approved in the first few weeks of Trump’s presidency have satisfied these voters?

A. The truth is that many Latino voters voted for someone who they thought was going to focus on the economy. That was their priority, but we are waiting for actions to address it. This administration has taken measures that have created uncertainty, making us feel more insecure. And by every major economic indicator, we are worse off than we were a year ago.

Q. What do you think when Trump insults immigrants and says they are murderers, drug dealers, gang members and patients in psychiatric hospitals?

A. Many are already familiar with President Trump and his extreme way of speaking. We agree that those who endanger our public and national security must be deported, but we do not support cruel immigration policies such as family separation and mass deportation. They are contrary to the values of the majority of the population. What the Hispanic community is looking for are solutions and for the federal government to act against human and drug traffickers, but also to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who have lived here for decades.

Q. Do you think racism has increased among the U.S. population?

A. Because of the extreme rhetoric of President Trump and his MAGA party, many more people are now feeling emboldened. That is translating into more racism, in various policies at the state and local level and in incidents where we have seen cruel treatment of people in our community.

Q. Thanks to Latinos, there is demographic growth in the country. Their economic activity exceeds $3 billion a year. Are they recognized for the contribution they make to the country?

A. The fear-driven immigration policy of this Trump administration has negative consequences for the entire country. Not just for Latino families or those who have been separated or deported. Approximately 11 million American citizens, including 5 million children (8% of all children in the United States), live in a household where at least one family member is undocumented. Most of whom have been in the United States for a decade. These actions are going to impact the economy of the entire country. We represent the economic power that is going to move the economy of this country forward and the workers we need to have a strong economy.

Q. Many measures against immigration have been approved: the cancellation of TPS (Temporary Protected Status), asylum and humanitarian parole, raids, the decree that cancels birthright citizenship, the Laken Riley law. Which one do you think has the worst consequences?

A. I think that the mass deportation policy is going to be the most damaging because of the effect it will have on the economy and because it will be felt throughout the country. It is instilling fear in many families and in many workers and businesses. We have already seen that there are children who have stopped going to school, and people who do not go into businesses because they are afraid that someone will go there and deport a member of their family.

Q. What advice would you give to Latinos who are afraid of going to work or taking their children to school?

A. UnidosUS and many other organizations have tried to educate all the families and individuals who may be affected so they know their rights, because here, everyone has rights. They need to understand what federal and local authorities can do. There are lawyers who have volunteered to help families. However, they must be careful because, unfortunately, this is the consequence of the elections, and we cannot fully protect our families, although we strive to do so. Additionally, we are filing lawsuits in the courts, as there are some policies from this administration that are unconstitutional or illegal.

Q. What do you think about the decision to declare English the official language of the U.S.?

A. There is no doubt that English is already recognized as the language of this country, but we must be aware that the vast majority of immigrants are trying to learn it. We have affiliates who offer English classes to the community, but we must remember that several languages are spoken in this country, and they help strengthen the economy. We should not underestimate the importance of knowing more than one language in a world that is becoming smaller, and take advantage of the gift of knowing other languages. Declaring English as the official language is an unnecessary act, and I’m not sure that it will have much impact, other than giving President Trump something to support his MAGA party.

Q. As the leader of one of the largest organizations serving the Latino community, what have been your priorities?

A. UnidosUS' priority is to protect and defend our community in every way possible, and to seek to advance it economically and socially in this adverse climate.

Q. What have you found most difficult in these years?

A. The fact that many of our citizens in the United States still do not recognize the value of the Latino community. We are vital to the future of this country, and knowing that there is no such recognition is something that still disappoints me. But I know that the role that we are going to play in the future of this country is going to be very positive.

Q. Is the American dream still alive?

A. We will always strive to ensure that every person can pursue their own American dream. That is part of who we are. People like me who have benefited from seeing the American dream realized will continue to work to help others achieve it.

Q. What do you expect from the next four years?

A. I am an optimist, but also a realist. That’s why I think what lies ahead is going to be difficult, but if we come together as a community and if we remain dedicated to moving forward with our values and the truth, we can get through this.

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