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VIDEO: Immigrant-Rights Group 'Devastated' by Trump Win

By Katie Honan | November 9, 2016 8:39am
 Antonio Alarcon colors in the United States of America as election results come in on Nov. 8, 2016.
Antonio Alarcon colors in the United States of America as election results come in on Nov. 8, 2016.
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DNAinfo/Katie Honan

JACKSON HEIGHTS — Early Tuesday evening, before Trump's win became clear, Ecuadorian immigrant Leticia Pazmino waved two American flags and cheered "mujeres al poder" — "women to power" — at Make the Road New York's Roosevelt Avenue headquarters.

"My favorite is Hillary [Clinton], because she has the experience... she knows what she's doing," she said. "I'm scared for the other way. He's a racist man."

But as the night went on it was clear the other way — Republican candidate Donald Trump — had the momentum across the nation. 

As members colored in each state red or blue on a map of the United States while watching the results come in, the immigrant group's party slowly turned somber. 

"I'm devastated, because I'm undocumented," Martin Batalla, 26, said as poll returns increasingly leaned towards Trump.

Batalla was born in Mexico but came to the United States as a baby, and he was scared by the now-president-elect's threats of deportation.

"They're very 'machismo' in Mexico — they don't like gay people," he said. "If I'm here, I can be myself. I can be gay. I can be straight. In Mexico I don't think I could have the same privilege that I have here."

Richard Rosario, 27, called Trump a "narcissistic, self-absorbed" person who isn't interested in gay rights or immigrants.

"He's against everybody's rights except for his own, and in the long run he doesn't pay taxes," he said.

"My biggest fear is he's going to send a lot of people who come here to do good, and make a better life for their family, back, and it's not right. Everybody should be able to come to America to start fresh and get a new chance. It's not fair."

But organizers said that they have to look to themselves for support.

"We just have to continue to organize and rely on the community. We have always fought for each other and been there for each other," Make the Road organizer Natalia Aristizabal told those at the headquarters just after midnight. "Politicians have never been the solution. We bring the solution. We fight for the solutions."