Univision reported that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump “constantly dodged the issue of immigration” at a press conference in Doral, FL, a “Hispanic stronghold,” even cutting off a reporter before she could finish her question.

Trump has avoided discussing issues that specifically impact the Hispanic community, and has a record of ignoring Latino journalists and refusing to give them interviews, ejecting them from press conferences, and harassing and insulting them. Hispanic media have repeatedly made the point that Latinos will be a crucial voting bloc in the 2016 election and that Trump’s claim that “Hispanics love me” is sharply contradicted by facts.

In a July 27 article, Univision’s Estephani Cano reported that during Trump’s visit to Doral, FL, “where 79% of the residents are Hispanic,” he “constantly dodged the issue of immigration and did not want to explain his strategy for winning the Hispanic vote.” The article explained that many of Trump’s actions, such as ignoring questions about his immigration plan and cancelling meetings with Hispanic leaders, leaves the impression in the community that “he doesn’t care about us.”

Translated from the July 27 article (emphasis original):

It was expected that Donald Trump’s surprise visit this Wednesday to Doral, Florida, where more than half of the population is Hispanic, would focus on the magnate’s attempt to bring himself closer to that community.

Beyond repeating his inconsistent expression that Latinos “love him,” Trump constantly dodged the issue of immigration and did not want to explain his strategy for winning the Hispanic vote.

“The Hispanics love me, I think that I have gone up in the polls by 35%,” (sic) the tycoon estimated from his luxurious golf course in front of dozens of journalists, who were convened on Tuesday at the last minute for a press conference.

One local reporter asked him about how he planned to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants who live in the country.

“In three weeks we will present a plan about it, which will include everything,” (sic) Trump responded dryly.

Another reporter asked him to give a sample of his immigration proposals, emphasizing that he should take into account that he was in Doral, where 79% of the residents are Hispanic, who surely would be interested in the issue.

“I love Doral. In my fantastic club I have many Hispanic employees,” (sic) Trump dodged, without letting the journalist finish her question.

According to the latest national poll by the firm Bendixen & Amandi, 52% of eligible voters lean towards Hillary Clinton, while 25% lean towards Trump and 23% are still undecided.

Even within the Republican Party, although the preference for Trump in the county is higher (48%), there are still 32% who remain undecided and 20% who would vote for Clinton.

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“He doesn’t care about us”

On Tuesday, Trump canceled for the second time a planned meeting with Hispanic leaders in Florida.

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“That Trump cancels and cancels events with Hispanics demonstrates how little he cares about this community. He is not going to bring himself closer to Latinos, and even if he tries more it is too late. He has already offended us too much, he has used us as a target to get where he is,” undocumented immigrant and and activist for United Families Maria Bilbao told Univision News.

[...]

Republican political analyst Israel Ortega agreed with Bilbao in that “Trump wasted the opportunity to seek the Hispanic vote.”