Being a South Texas Hispanic from the border I’d like to reply: the recent voting in the presidential election that favored trump or an increased voter total in his favor is not easily explained looking at the numbers only.
For example, in Laredo, a large portion of the population works in the oilfield or for border patrol. The oilfield allows many who would otherwise be working a dead end job the opportunity to earn great money. I have no issues with people making money but their lack of education or ability to use critical thinking with regards to understanding policies that would either help or hurt their profession added to the increased support. In their minds, Biden (democrats) were going to end oilfield/fracking work for good when in reality Biden’s stated agenda for fracking was not to issue new permits on federal land. That lie was parroted on Facebook and in the news by right leaning news outlets and spread like wildfire in Laredo.
Regarding BP, it provides a great paying federal job for many that wouldn’t otherwise qualify for such a high paying government job. One of my cousins, literally known in the family as not the brightest of his siblings, is now a recruiting supervisor after about 10 years experience. I remember he would brag about how he didn’t have to go to school and is still taking home over 100K while I was struggling to get through undergrad and law school. Many friends that became agents would brag about getting paid to sit in their Tahoe’s and watch movies while parked on a ranch close to the border. One BP agent on my Facebook feed (now since deactivated because fuck Facebook) even was advocating for Texas to secede from the US if Biden wins. Mindblown.gif
The sad reality is that many of the Hispanic citizens along the border, many only a generation removed from living across the border, think so lowly about our neighbors from the south. The mentality is “fuck them, I got mine.” They’ll claim that “They’re stealing our jobs” yet they don’t care that “Don Juan” who is mowing their lawn or remodeling their kitchen is here illegally because he will do it for cheaper. They'll cross the border to see the doctor because it’s cheaper. Additionally a sad reality that I’ve seen with a few acquaintances and distant family is that they fall for many of the conspiracies that are spread like wild fire on Facebook. I blame our education system in Texas for this shit but in my opinion it is part of the reason for the increase in support for trump this past election.