Despite President Donald Trump’s anti-migrant rhetoric and his administration’s efforts to end their temporary legal status, he is considering shielding Venezuelans in the U.S. who have fled their homeland as a way to win the key battleground state of Florida in next year’s election, Politico reported on Monday.
Even Trump officials who have been the harshest in their views towards immigration have been receptive to the idea, realizing that it could help the president secure a second term, according to those familiar with the discussions.
Trump is considering allowing Venezuelans to live and work legally in the U.S. through one of the existing programs used to protect those who come from nations that are war-torn or suffering natural disasters.
Such a move would win praise from Hispanics in Florida, including the sizeable Cuban population and could be key to his victory in the state. He narrowly won it in 2016, but his approval rating has fallen dramatically since.
Both Republicans and Democrats acknowledge that such a policy by Trump would benefit him politically, and his ability to sway even a small number of voters might end up being the difference in such a tight race.
One person familiar with the matter said that such a move also would make Trump’s policies, particularly trying to oust Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, more consistent, saying “how can you on one hand have foreign policy that says Maduro is a genocidal thug starving the people of Venezuela and at the same time send people back?”
Democrats, realizing that Trump is making a great effort for Hispanic support in the state, have launched a Spanish-language radio program to counter his campaign’s outreach to the Venezuelan population.