"Business Is Down Significantly”: Border families who voted for Trump now live with chaos they did not expect

Just steps from the international bridge in Laredo, La Mina Cantina Bar is woven into the daily rhythm of cross-border life. Commuters pass by for coffee and breakfast tacos in the morning and return at night for drinks, food, and karaoke, all under the watch of nearby Customs and Border Protection agents.

Its owner, Enrique “Quique,” and his brother Arturo, bought the struggling bar after the pandemic downturn. Business has not recovered the way they hoped. “I don’t want to complain,” Quique says, but costs are rising, customers are spending less, and he believes conditions are getting worse.

Webb County, which includes Laredo, made national headlines after swinging sharply toward Trump in 2024. The shift reflected frustration over the economy, immigration, and disappointment with Democrats. But a year into Trump’s return to office, that optimism is fading across much of South Texas.

“There’s not a lot of optimism,” says Jerry Garza, chair of the Laredo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “Not only have things not gotten better, but they’ve also gotten worse.”

Buyer’s remorse sets in

Polling suggests support among Hispanic voters in Texas is slipping. Approval has dropped while strong disapproval has climbed sharply over the past year. Community leaders say that change is visible on the ground.

Quique, who voted for Trump twice, now regrets it. “I don’t think he knows what he’s doing,” he says, criticizing the administration’s immigration tactics and trade policies. He sees longtime customers growing fearful about their legal status and job security, even when they cross the border lawfully every day.

As he closes up the bar late at night, he reflects on what people are really asking for: “They want a more just government.” Still, he clings to a quiet hope. “Dios aprieta, pero no ahorca,” he says. “God squeezes, but he doesn’t strangle.”

Trade, trucking, and shrinking business

The economic strain goes beyond neighborhood bars. In warehouses and logistics firms that power one of the busiest trade corridors in the country, uncertainty has become the norm.

Customs broker J.D. Gonzalez says his company has lost thousands of shipments compared to last year. “As a business, I was doing quite well, and right now I’m probably down about 3,000 shipments over the year,” he says. Tariff shifts, visa pauses, and new regulations have slowed commerce and left companies hesitant to plan.

Even among Trump supporters, frustration is growing. “I have a lot of friends who are die-hard Trumpers,” Gonzalez says. “They’ll say I voted for him, but I didn’t vote for this.”

Farmers under pressure

Outside the cities, rural communities are feeling the impact differently but just as intensely. Rio Farms, a long-standing agricultural operation, is struggling with low commodity prices, high input costs, water shortages, and labor shortages.

“We wanna see Trump succeed, but we don’t know how long we can hold on,” says Matt Klosterman, the farm’s president.

A recent federal bailout offered temporary relief, but farmers see it as a short-term patch. “This doesn’t help next year,” Klosterman says. “We would rather do it the old-fashioned way, where we didn’t have to have this.”

Divided views on immigration

Opinions on immigration remain complex. Some business leaders who lean conservative still defend the administration’s enforcement approach. Jerry Maldonado, whose parents immigrated from Mexico, argues that undocumented migration carries known risks. “It’s no different than you running a stoplight and getting into an accident,” he says.

At the same time, contractors and builders report serious damage to their workforce as raids remove longtime employees. A South Texas home builder who asked to remain anonymous says many colleagues are quietly reconsidering their support. “Trump has good intentions but doesn’t see the domino effect,” he explains, describing how fear and labor shortages are freezing projects and investment.

Discontent without realignment

Despite growing frustration, this does not automatically translate into renewed loyalty to Democrats. Political analysts note that many Hispanic voters in South Texas now identify as independents, willing to switch parties depending on the circumstances.

Business leaders warn that conditions are worsening. “Business is down significantly, and if we continue on this trajectory, in this direction, we will see a lot of businesses fail,” says Ronnie Cavazos of the South Texas Builders Association.

Back at La Mina Bar, Quique believes the recent political shift was driven less by love for Trump and more by disillusionment with the alternatives. Democrats, he says, were the “ones responsible for the people looking for someone like Trump,” someone who would “tell them what they wanted to hear.”

Now, as the economic and social consequences set in, many along the border are reassessing their choices. Their loyalty is no longer guaranteed to either party. What they want, above all, is relief, stability, and a sense that someone is listening.