An editorial in The Guardianposed an interesting question last week. Most Hispanics vote Democrat, so why are so many Hispanic politicians Republican? Cindy Casares, a columnist for the Texas Observer, says it sometimes comes down to nationality.
While most Hispanic Americans are of Mexican descent, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are Cuban. These two groups have had vastly different experiences in America. Cubans are uniquely poised by our immigration system to receive power and status. While Mexicans are deported, when Cubans are caught entering the United States without documentation, they’re granted refuge. A year later, those Cuban immigrants can apply for US citizenship. US banks have pioneered small business loans for Cuban exiles who have no credit.
Mexican Americans, meanwhile, inherit a long-held legacy of discrimination.