NEW POLLING: Climate Power En Acción focus groups show Latinos are concerned about immigration and rising costs

The findings make clear that Latinos are worried about their well-being as affordability and ICE raids drive their top concerns. 

WASHINGTON — Climate Power En Acción released the findings from four sets of focus groups that showed the overall mood among Latinos is currently negative as concern grows over immigration and rising costs. The focus groups, carried out alongside GBAO in February 2026,  show Latino voters believe Trump and Republicans aren’t focused on what matters, viewing them as prioritizing immigration enforcement and foreign wars over the affordability crisis Americans are facing. However, Latino voters may not yet fully connect rising costs to Trump and Republicans, making it vital to show how they’ve ignored this concern.

“Trump and Republicans have completely misplaced priorities. They promised to reduce costs, but they are doing the opposite. They’re spending billions on immigration enforcement and foreign conflicts that do nothing but create uncertainty, fear, and raise costs further,” said Antonieta Cádiz, executive director of Climate Power En Acción. “Latino voters aren’t buying excuses; their frustration with failed leadership is tangible and growing each day.”

Key findings:

• The overall mood is very negative among Latinos, with rising costs and ICE raids driving concerns.
• The topic of immigration triggers intense reactions. Participants describe ICE’s actions as racist, share personal stories, and express frustration with ICE targeting families instead of just criminals.
• Corporate greed is viewed as the primary driver of rising energy costs. While some mention Trump, voters do not yet clearly connect his actions to higher prices.
• Electric and oil companies are widely seen as greedy and corrupt. 
• Clean energy is viewed as necessary, inevitable and good for the environment. However, voters are ambivalent about short-term cost impacts and unclear about the link between clean energy and AI.
• The strongest message connects rising energy costs to Republicans’ misplaced priorities — focusing on deporting tax-paying immigrants with no criminal record over making things more affordable.
• Participants support proposals centered on clean air and water and holding big corporations accountable.
• Few watched the President’s State of the Union. His statement about increasing oil production and lowering gas prices was met with skepticism, while there was some openness to the Ratepayer Protection Pledge.

The new findings were unveiled today in a presentation to partners, which also featured a recent Equis Research poll on Latino media habits. Climate Power En Acción conducted four 90-minute online focus groups across the congressional battleground on Feb 24–25, 2026, two in English and two in Spanish.

Read the full findings here.