Experts from UNAM’s CISAN Warn of Continued Xenophobic Discourse
Donald Trump’s political rhetoric continues to be marked by anti-Mexicanism and xenophobia, warned experts from the Center for North American Studies (CISAN) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
Key Points from the Seminar
- Anti-Mexican sentiment has become a structural element within Republican rhetoric in the United States.
- Despite strong economic integration between the two countries, a hostile narrative persists, influencing restrictive immigration policies and border hardening.
- This type of rhetoric capitalizes on social fear and resentment, reinforcing historical prejudices against Mexican and Latino American migrants.
The researchers, Leonardo Curzio Gutiérrez, José Alejandro Mosqueda Esparza, and Camelia Nicoleta Tigau, highlighted that anti-Mexicanism is a structuring discourse of the political attitudes of the US right, rooted in demographic, migration, and the so-called “war on drugs” issues.
Impact of Deportations and Economic Consequences
According to the experts, deportations remain an indicator of this exclusionary policy: Mexicans accounted for 32% of the total individuals expelled from US territory in 2024, the highest proportion by nationality. Furthermore, they estimated that a massive deportation would negatively impact the US economy by reducing its GDP between 2.6% and 6.2% over the coming decades.
CISAN’s Observations on Persistent Anti-Mexican Sentiment
The CISAN emphasized that this phenomenon is not new but intensifies each time Trump re-emerges in the political arena. His rhetoric (based on fear of “the other” and perceived cultural and economic loss) is reactivated during election periods and continues to shape public opinion.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main concern of UNAM experts? The persistence of anti-Mexican sentiment in Trump’s political rhetoric, which influences US immigration policies and shapes public perception of Mexicans.
- Why do experts consider anti-Mexicanism a structural element in Republican rhetoric? It is rooted in demographic, migration, and drug war issues, capitalizing on social fear and reinforcing historical prejudices against Mexican and Latino American migrants.
- What are the potential economic consequences of mass deportations? Massive deportations could reduce the US GDP by 2.6% to 6.2% over the coming decades.
- Why does anti-Mexican sentiment continue to be a relevant issue? It is not only a reflection of historical tensions but also a political tool that conditions bilateral relations and current migration debates between Mexico and the United States.
