Los Angeles is on fire—again. But this time, it’s not just another headline. It’s a gut punch to every hardworking, law-abiding Hispanic family who believed in the American dream, followed the rules, and came to this country the right way.
The images coming out of Los Angeles are heartbreaking. Looted storefronts. Torched vehicles. Families locked in their homes while criminals roam free. And let’s not ignore where these riots are happening: in predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods like Boyle Heights, Huntington Park, and South Central. These aren’t elite zip codes. These are working-class communities—immigrant communities—being torn apart by the failed immigration policies of the previous administration.
Enough is enough.
What about the millions of Hispanics who came here legally? What about those who stood in line, paid their dues, learned the language, and embraced the American dream? Don’t they deserve safe streets and secure neighborhoods? What about the small business owner who worked 20 years to open a shop, only to see it burned to the ground in one night of lawlessness? They followed the rules. They did everything right. And now they’re watching their neighborhoods destroyed by people who didn’t and by others on the left, including anarchists, radicals, and agitators who exploit chaos for their own agenda.
This chaos isn’t a mystery. It’s not a natural disaster. It’s the direct result of the last administration’s reckless, open-border, soft-on-crime agenda. An agenda that let illegal immigrants flood across our border unchecked. An agenda that empowered radical prosecutors who refuse to hold criminals accountable. An agenda that saw those in charge stand by as violent mobs were glorified and police officers were vilified.
Kamala Harris even once said that these riots are “not going to stop—and they shouldn’t.” That’s not leadership. That’s lunacy.
Now, thankfully, President Donald J. Trump is back in charge. And he isn’t just tweeting. He’s taking decisive action.
The moment the riots broke out in Los Angeles, he deployed the National Guard. He empowered law enforcement. And he made it clear: law and order is not optional. It’s non-negotiable.
Under President Trump, illegal immigrants who commit crimes are being arrested and deported. Because protecting the American people starts with protecting our borders and removing those who break our laws. These are not “immigrants”—they are criminals who abused a broken system and are now tearing apart the very communities immigrants helped build.
Let’s be clear: America is a nation of immigrants, and Hispanics are proof of that. We are builders, not destroyers. We raise families, not riots. We open businesses, not break windows. We go to church on Sunday, send our kids to school, and work two jobs if we have to—all because we believe in the promise of this country. And yet, we’re the ones paying the highest price for the failures of the liberal immigration agenda.
President Trump understands this. That’s why he’s restoring law and order—not just in rhetoric, but in action. His administration is cracking down on radical, Soros-funded prosecutors who refuse to do their jobs. President Trump is reinvigorating ICE to remove criminal illegal aliens, supporting local law enforcement with the tools and manpower they need, and securing the border and enforcing immigration laws fairly and firmly.
The America First approach is not anti-immigrant. It’s pro-law, pro-family, and pro-community. It respects those who come to America legally and want to contribute. It draws a hard line against those who come to destroy. Because we can’t have a country without borders. We can’t have safe neighborhoods without law enforcement. We sure as hell can’t define “justice” as letting criminals run wild while honest families live in fear.
This is not about politics. It’s about what kind of nation we want to be.
Do we want a country where illegal gangs and violent mobs control our streets? Or do we want a country where legal immigrants and their families can thrive in peace and security?
Do we want chaos—or do we want order? Do we want excuses—or results?
The choice is clear. America is choosing law and order once again.
The Hispanic community overwhelmingly wants safe, strong communities. We want opportunity, not anarchy. We want secure borders and legal immigration, not chaos and crime.
Los Angeles should serve as a wake-up call to the rest of the country. Liberal immigration policies are not just wrong—they are dangerous. But under President Trump, we are taking our communities back.
Because the America First Agenda is the only way forward—for Hispanics, and for every American who believes in freedom, fairness, and the rule of law.
Bob Unanue serves as board member of the America First Policy Institute. He served as president and chief executive officer of Goya Foods and Goya Cares, and executive producer of the movie Sound of Freedom.
Jorge Martinez is National Director for Hispanic Outreach for the America First Policy Institute. He previously served as press secretary for the U.S. Department of Justice.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
