Illegal Immigration Worries Voters and Causes Some To Choose Trump

At a Morningside Heights shelter, where legal migrants and American citizens live side by side, social workers who are there to  help sometimes talk about their own problems. “I’m sick of having to take from Peter to give to Paul.  It’s like every month I have to choose between taking money out of my rent to pay for groceries or going hungry,” said social worker Bobbi Williams. 

Williams looks at the presidential campaign and wonders whether Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump will take the burden off of  people like her. A co-worker, Jon George, agreed. “We need a president who is going to close the border and concentrate on helping the people who are sitting on hard times. I’m not saying people shouldn’t come to live here in America from other countries, I’m just saying they should do it legally. This is America, land of opportunity, but you have to abide by the rules.” Jon George said.

People we spoke with in Morningside Heights and Midtown talked about immigration.  Illegal immigrants and the perception that they get preferential treatment from the government came up over and over again. There were a few exceptions.

Harris volunteers are happy to talk about their candidate. Photo by Vanessa Williams.

A couple of Harris volunteers sitting at a table with buttons and t-shirts for sale were willing to give their opinions.  “There is a threat to our democracy if Trump is elected,” said a retired professor from Hunter College who didn’t give his name.  He said that he felt that Trump wanted to become a dictator and would destroy the power of independence. Jamie, another Harris volunteer said,  “We need to strengthen our relationship with our foreign allies and keep dictators out of the White House.”  

A few blocks away,  Maria Lee Fisher stopped while walking her dog in Central Park. She said, “I’m scared of Trump, I’m scared of dictatorship.” But she also talked about homelessness and her concerns. “There are women sleeping here. I fear for their safety,” she said.   

In Midtown Yolanda Hernandez identifies as a homemaker and she talked about immigrants and a sense of lawlessness. “I was at a bus stop and an illegal migrant from Venezuela broke a bottle all over the street,” she said.  “I asked him in Spanish why he did that.  He responded, “I don’t care, this isn’t my country,”  Ms. Hernandez recalled. 

In a neighborhood store on Broadway, the owner, an employee and several customers talked  about inflation and illegal immigration. No one wanted to give their name, but the lively conversation came down hard on illegal immigration. 

“As a black man I feel the immigrants are getting priority over people of color,”  said the employee.  

A customer said, “We got people who risked their lives for this country, who fought for it but get treated like shit.” Another customer chimed in, “It’s  sickening when I see veterans sitting on the streets begging and they’re homeless. But our taxes go to pay for these people who come here illegally to stay in hotels, and they get food stamps,” he said.

The owner of the business listened and then said, “We aren’t opposed to people coming here legally, we just want people to respect the rules.”