Venezuelan stronghold Doral sees voters grow discouraged with Trump

Support begins to weaken

In January, Andrea Ramos and her husband were celebrating and following the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Ramos said she had admired Trump after Maduro’s arrest and extradition to the United States.

Ramos is now disappointed with the economy and has become less supportive of Trump and the Republican Party because of the administration’s immigration crackdown. Doral’s 2024 support for Trump was driven in part by Venezuelan Americans who had fled Maduro’s socialist regime.

Businesses feel enforcement impact

Stephanie Caro’s family-owned coffee shop in Doral is among local businesses reporting lower foot traffic and sales. Masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been photographed on city streets.

Some business owners have voiced concern that they may have to close. The account also says ICE has increasingly targeted asylum seekers with pending cases and active work permits.

Questions about Trump’s ties

Trump’s close relationship with Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez has also affected his support in Doral. The report does not provide further detail about how that relationship has changed individual voters’ views. Fraga told CBS News, “There is a lot of things that I support, and there's also questions that I've raised.”