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Latinos in KC react to President-elect Donald Trump

Posted at 5:10 PM, Nov 09, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-09 18:25:13-05
Numbers out Wednesday show President-elect Donald Trump performed stronger with Hispanic voters than Mitt Romney did in 2012.
 
NBC exit polls show Trump claimed 29 percent of the Hispanic vote -- up 2 percent from four years ago.
 
In Kansas City, Kansas where a large number of Latinos live, some are unsure if Trump will act on the campaign rhetoric that got him elected, meanwhile others are afraid for their safety. 
 
 
As a mother of young girl and a newborn son, Erica Hernandez is uneasy of her future under a Trump presidency.
 
“When he said he was running we were like 'yeah, this is a joke no way' and now that this is a reality we’re like 'how in the world?'” Hernandez said.
 
As a Latina born in Mexico and raised in KCK, Hernandez is worried about her personal safety when Trump takes office. 
 
“We just don’t feel safe I think as minority we just no longer feel safe because our nation we’re pretty much divided now and I feel that everyone feels uncertain of what’s to come next,” Hernandez said.
 
Immigration attorney Catalina Velarde said her clients are anxious when approached by law enforcement.
 
“Just every interaction that they might have might lead to a separation from their spouse, their children,” Velarde said.
 
Velarde is unsure if Trump will act on his campaign rhetoric 
 
“We also need to know if there will be any changes in the enforcement priority as far as deportation, volume and etcetera,” Velarde said.
 
On Wednesday, at “La Grand D”, a Spanish radio station on 1340 AM, people called in to voice their opinion over what’s happened in the last 24 hours. 
 
Station general manager Diana Reyes Raymer said they’ve listened and it’s something that Trump needs to do in the oval office. 
 
“The nation does not just comprise of a small group, it’s a large group of different communities, of different cultures so if he truly wants to fit in those shoes of being a true leader he’s going to have to do that,” Raymer said.
 
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Andres Gutierrez can be reached at andres.gutierrez@kshb.com

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