# Hispanic Americans losing faith in the American Dream

> A sharp decline in belief that hard work leads to success reflects deeper concerns about belonging, safety, and democracy.
- Title: Hispanic Americans losing faith in the American Dream
- Summary: A sharp decline in belief that hard work leads to success reflects deeper concerns about belonging, safety, and democracy. Hispanic Americans across all…
- Keywords: hispanic americans, american dream, immigration enforcement, ice raids, national pride, democratic rights, 2026 midterms, trump administration, public opinion, sense of belonging, voting rights, science
- Source: The Conversation — https://theconversation.com/why-hispanic-americans-are-losing-faith-in-the-american-dream-291775
- Author: Diana Orcés
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: hispanic americans, american dream, immigration enforcement, ice raids, national pride, democratic rights, 2026 midterms, trump administration, public opinion, sense of belonging, voting rights, science
## Hispanic support for Trump surged, then stalled
Trump won 43% of Hispanic voters in 2024, up from 35% in 2020. But favorable views of his immigration handling dropped from 31% in 2025 to 19% in 2026.
## Faith in the American Dream is collapsing
Just 40% of Hispanic Americans believe hard work leads to success, down from 52% two years ago. This decline spans all political parties.

> Just 40% of Hispanic Americans say that dream holds true today, down from 52% just two years ago.
## Immigration enforcement is making communities feel unsafe
ICE arrests of people with no criminal record are surging. Federal agents have shot at nearly two dozen people, mostly Latino, since last year. 68% of Hispanic Americans say this surge makes communities less safe.

> Most Hispanic Americans, 68%, believe the surge of ICE officers is making communities less safe.
## National pride among Hispanics has plummeted
Just 42% of Hispanic Americans say they are extremely or very proud to be American, down from 77% in 2013. Overall American pride fell from 82% to 51% in the same period.

> Just 42% of Hispanic Americans say they are extremely or very proud to be American, compared with 51% of Americans overall.
## Majority of Hispanics feel like strangers at home
56% of Hispanic Americans now say they feel like strangers in their own country. This reflects a fundamental shift in how this group sees its place in America.

> A majority of Hispanic Americans, 56%, now say they feel like strangers in their own country.
## Voting rights concerns are deepening the divide
Unfounded claims about noncitizen voting are weakening Hispanic Americans' confidence in democracy. The proposed SAVE America Act would require additional documentation to vote, making it even harder for Latino citizens.
## Party affiliation doesn't explain the shift
Hispanic Democrats, Republicans, and independents all show similar declines in belief in the American Dream. This suggests the crisis reflects a shared sense of alienation rather than partisan disagreement.

> After accounting for other characteristics, Hispanic Democrats, Republicans and independents do not significantly differ in whether they believe the American Dream holds true.
## The stakes go beyond the midterms
When 1 in 5 Americans begins to doubt that hard work leads to opportunity or that citizenship provides security, the consequences extend far beyond which party they support. The question becomes whether people are losing faith in the country itself.
## Key takeaway

Hispanic Americans across all political parties are losing faith in the American Dream, driven by immigration enforcement, declining national pride, and concerns about democratic rights, not party affiliation.