MINNESOTA CITY, Minn. — After long nights of phone-banking and door-knocking, Communities Organizing Latine Power and Action (COPAL) says it's not only tired, but many of their workers and members are scared.
Claudia Lainez, the Worker Center Director, says COPAL is prepping resources to help folks understand their rights, amid threats from President-elect Donald Trump of "mass deportation."
"It's hard to process," said Lainez. "I think it's a good opportunity for us to get back to work and organize."
Which is why Lainez says she was surprised to learn the Latino vote has shifted. According to the Associated Press, Hispanic voters were more open to Trump than they were in 2020. Roughly half of Latino men voted for Harris, down from about 6 in 10 who went for Biden, according to a recent poll.
Ryan Perez is COPAL's organizing director. He says his organization will concentrate on informing people of those rights in the coming months.
"There's a level of self-defense in our community right now," said Perez. "How do we defend the policies that are creating pathways for people?"
He is also trying to understand how voters have shifted.
Tomas Useche is the Vice President for St. Olaf's College Republicans, and he says he gets raised eyebrows when he tells people he voted for Trump.
"I grew up only, like, until I was 7 years old in Venezuela," Useche called.
Useche came here with his family when he was seven.
"I saw that we had to go through that process," Useche said. "And I think everyone should have to go through that process. Because, you know, those are the rules, those are the laws, and there is a right and wrong way to do things."
He also believes Trump will provide a better economy for Latinos, but more than anything he thinks Democrats have pushed away the Latino voter.
"If you're not with us, then you know, you're labeled as a racist," said Useche, "You hate your own kind, things like that. And that's just, it's just not true."
President-elect Donald Trump says Tom Homan, his former acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, will serve as the "border czar". He has voiced his support for mass deportations. He said in a recent interview with 60 Minutes that the plan is still being worked on.