Against a backdrop of deepening political polarization in the United States and escalating international conflicts, migrant communities are emerging as an increasingly decisive force in shaping public debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That reality came into sharp focus at a recent forum organized by American Community Media (ACoM), where experts examined how diasporas not only react to events in their countries of origin but also actively shape U.S. politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The panel brought together specialists including Eduardo Gamarra, a political scientist and professor at Florida International University with expertise in Latin America and electoral behavior; anthropologist William Beeman, renowned for his studies on the Middle East, particularly Iran; and activist and journalist Helen Zia, a leading figure in civil rights and Asian American communities – each addressing how the historical perspectives of diasporas influence U.S. politics and how they react to global conflicts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Contradictions in the Cuban Diaspora<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Political scientist Eduardo Gamarra trained his analysis on the Cuban and Venezuelan communities, tracing the political evolution of Cuban Americans in the United States. Their consolidation as a significant electoral force, he argued, took hold in the 1980s, when the Republican Party succeeded in crafting a message that resonated with this population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The roots of that political affinity run deep into history. The rejection of the Democratic Party, Gamarra explained, \u201cdates back to the idea that John Kennedy did not provide air support in the context of the Bay of Pigs invasion.\u201d That episode left a lasting imprint on the community’s political memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet one of the most striking findings of his presentation was the identification of a sharp internal contradiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat we found is something truly interesting\u2026 There is an incredible contradiction,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On one side, many Cuban Americans back progressive social policies, including access to health programs. On the other hand, they continue to deliver the majority of electoral support to conservative leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere are zip codes in Hialeah with the highest per capita consumption of health programs in the country, and yet, more than 70% of voters supported Donald Trump,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That duality reflects a complex interplay of economic interests, political identity, and historical memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tensions surrounding immigration policy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A further contradiction surfaces regarding immigration. Gamarra noted that Cubans have historically been \u201cthe main beneficiaries of expansive immigration policies,\u201d yet today a significant portion of that same community backs restrictive measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That stance has generated mounting tensions, particularly as those policies have begun to hit closer to home. \u201cNow they are seeing their relatives being deported, not only to Cuba, but to places like Uganda or Ecuador,\u201d Gamarra warned – a development that has fueled growing discontent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In that context, Gamarra pointed to an emerging rift between the community’s political leadership and its base. \u201cWe are seeing growing frustration,\u201d he said, particularly among those who directly bear the consequences of these decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Venezuelan Diaspora and Its Political Shift<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the Venezuelan case, Gamarra noted that the political landscape has shifted dramatically in recent years. Initially, many migrants aligned with the Democratic Party – but that allegiance eroded over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe saw a dramatic shift toward Donald Trump, based on the promises that he would eliminate the socialist regime,\u201d he explained. That alignment, however, is far from uniform and harbors internal divisions. A key fault line runs between recent migrants and established citizens. Many of the former depend on temporary protection programs, a reality that directly shapes their political positions. A revealing statistic: 70% of those who said they would not vote for Trump again have a family member under temporary protection or on a humanitarian permit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gamarra also highlighted a prevailing confusion within the community over U.S. policy toward Venezuela.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPeople support Nicol\u00e1s Maduro\u2019s departure, but they are extraordinarily confused about what it means, in practice, to cooperate with that same regime,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That ambiguity underscores the complexity of international relations and their direct impact on migrants’ perceptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Iranian Diaspora: History, Identity, and Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Anthropologist William Beeman brought a historical lens to bear on the Iranian diaspora. Its current configuration, he explained, traces back to the revolution of the late 1970s, when competing political factions vied for power in the wake of the monarch\u2019s fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere were three factions hoping to replace the government: secular nationalists, religious nationalists, and Islamic Marxists,\u201d he said. Ultimately, the religious sector consolidated its hold on power, forcing the other groups into exile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Currently, many of these sectors maintain a firm stance against the Iranian government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey are deeply opposed to the current regime,\u201d Beeman said. That opposition, he argued, partly explains their inclination toward harder political positions in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond the political, Beeman pointed to the strong cultural ties this community maintains with its country of origin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTheir sense of belonging and nostalgia for their country are palpable,\u201d he noted. This connection manifests itself in cultural practices, celebrations, and constant ties with family members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Internal divisions persist, however, particularly among sectors that aspire to radical political change. Some groups, especially within the economic elite, hold onto the hope of restoring the monarchy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMany expect the son of the former ruler to return and assume power,\u201d Beeman said. He was quick to temper that expectation, however, warning that the idea lacks support within the country itself. \u201cHe has no support in Iran,\u201d he said – making it, by his assessment, an unlikely aspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200bBeeman also underscored the weight of history in shaping perceptions of international politics. \u201cThe United States already intervened in 1953 to reinstate the ruler, which left a very strong negative memory,\u201d he recalled. That precedent, he argued, continues to fuel deep distrust of possible external interventions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Diasporas: Key Actors in an Interconnected World<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the course of the forum, one conclusion emerged with clarity: diasporas are complex actors, defined by contradictions, generational divisions, and vastly diverse experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They participate in U.S. politics not only through the ballot box, but also by shaping how international conflicts are interpreted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, decisions made in Washington carry direct consequences for their daily lives, creating a constant interplay between domestic and foreign policy. As the panelists made clear from the outset, these communities cannot be understood as homogeneous blocs, but rather as dynamic spaces where interests, identities, and tensions converge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an increasingly interdependent global landscape, understanding the role of diasporas is essential to interpreting both U.S. policy and the international dynamics that shape it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n En un contexto de creciente polarizaci\u00f3n pol\u00edtica en Estados Unidos y de intensificaci\u00f3n de los conflictos internacionales, las comunidades migrantes est\u00e1n adquiriendo un papel cada vez m\u00e1s relevante en la configuraci\u00f3n del debate p\u00fablico. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As\u00ed se evidenci\u00f3 en un reciente encuentro organizado por American Community Media (ACoM), en el que expertos analizaron c\u00f3mo las di\u00e1sporas no solo reaccionan a lo que ocurre en sus pa\u00edses de origen, sino que tambi\u00e9n inciden activamente en la pol\u00edtica estadounidense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Especialistas como Eduardo Gamarra, polit\u00f3logo y profesor en la Universidad Internacional de Florida y experto en Am\u00e9rica Latina y comportamiento electoral; el antrop\u00f3logo William Beeman, reconocido por sus estudios sobre Medio Oriente, particularmente Ir\u00e1n; y la activista y periodista Helen Zia, referente en temas de derechos civiles y comunidades asi\u00e1tico-estadounidenses; se reunieron en el panel para conversar sobre c\u00f3mo perspectivas hist\u00f3ricas de las di\u00e1sporas influyen en la pol\u00edtica estadounidense y y reaccionan a conflictos globales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contradicciones en la di\u00e1spora cubana<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n El polit\u00f3logo Eduardo Gamarra centr\u00f3 su an\u00e1lisis en las comunidades cubanas y venezolanas, comenzando por explicar la evoluci\u00f3n pol\u00edtica de los cubanoamericanos en Estados Unidos. Se\u00f1al\u00f3 que su consolidaci\u00f3n como fuerza electoral relevante se dio a partir de la d\u00e9cada de 1980, cuando el Partido Republicano logr\u00f3 articular un discurso atractivo para esta poblaci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Una de las ra\u00edces de esta afinidad pol\u00edtica se encuentra en hechos hist\u00f3ricos. Seg\u00fan explic\u00f3, el rechazo al Partido Dem\u00f3crata \u201cse remonta a la idea de que John Kennedy no brind\u00f3 apoyo a\u00e9reo durante la invasi\u00f3n de la Bah\u00eda de Cochinos\u201d. Este episodio marc\u00f3 profundamente la memoria pol\u00edtica de la comunidad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sin embargo, uno de los puntos m\u00e1s destacados de su intervenci\u00f3n fue la identificaci\u00f3n de una fuerte contradicci\u00f3n interna. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLo que encontramos es realmente interesante\u2026 existe una contradicci\u00f3n incre\u00edble\u201d, se\u00f1al\u00f3. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Por un lado, muchos cubanoamericanos respaldan pol\u00edticas sociales progresistas, como el acceso a programas de salud. Por otro lado, mantienen un apoyo electoral mayoritario hacia l\u00edderes conservadores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHay c\u00f3digos postales en Hialeah con el mayor consumo per c\u00e1pita de programas de salud del pa\u00eds y, aun as\u00ed, m\u00e1s del 70 % de los votantes apoyaron a Donald Trump\u201d, explic\u00f3. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Esta dualidad refleja una compleja combinaci\u00f3n de intereses econ\u00f3micos, identidad pol\u00edtica y memoria hist\u00f3rica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tensiones en torno a la pol\u00edtica migratoria<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Otra contradicci\u00f3n importante surge en el \u00e1mbito migratorio. Gamarra destac\u00f3 que los cubanos han sido hist\u00f3ricamente \u201clos grandes beneficiarios de pol\u00edticas migratorias expansivas\u201d, pero que actualmente una parte significativa de esta comunidad respalda medidas restrictivas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Esta postura ha generado tensiones recientes, especialmente cuando dichas pol\u00edticas afectan directamente a sus propios familiares. El acad\u00e9mico advirti\u00f3 que \u2018\u2018ahora est\u00e1n viendo que sus familiares est\u00e1n siendo deportados, no solo a Cuba, sino tambi\u00e9n a pa\u00edses como Uganda o Ecuador\u201d, lo que ha provocado un malestar creciente.<\/p>\n\n\n\n En ese sentido, se\u00f1al\u00f3 que comienza a emerger una brecha entre el liderazgo pol\u00edtico de la comunidad y sus bases: \u201cEstamos viendo una creciente frustraci\u00f3n\u201d, especialmente entre quienes experimentan directamente las consecuencias de estas decisiones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n La di\u00e1spora venezolana y su giro pol\u00edtico<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n En el caso venezolano, Gamarra explic\u00f3 que la tendencia pol\u00edtica ha cambiado significativamente en los \u00faltimos a\u00f1os. Inicialmente, muchos migrantes se inclinaban hacia el Partido Dem\u00f3crata, pero esto se transform\u00f3 con el tiempo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVimos un cambio dram\u00e1tico hacia Donald Trump, basado en las promesas de que eliminar\u00eda el r\u00e9gimen socialista\u201d, explic\u00f3. No obstante, esta alineaci\u00f3n no es homog\u00e9nea y presenta divisiones internas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Uno de los factores clave es la diferencia entre migrantes recientes y ciudadanos ya establecidos. Muchos de los primeros dependen de programas de protecci\u00f3n temporal, lo que influye directamente en sus posiciones pol\u00edticas. Un dato revelador es que el 70 % de quienes dijeron que no volver\u00edan a votar por Trump tienen un familiar bajo protecci\u00f3n temporal o con permisos humanitarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adem\u00e1s, Gamarra destac\u00f3 la confusi\u00f3n que existe actualmente en la comunidad respecto a la pol\u00edtica estadounidense hacia Venezuela. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLas personas apoyan la salida de Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, pero est\u00e1n extraordinariamente confundidas sobre lo que significa, en la pr\u00e1ctica, cooperar con ese mismo r\u00e9gimen\u201d, explic\u00f3. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Esta ambig\u00fcedad refleja la complejidad de las relaciones internacionales y su impacto en las percepciones de los migrantes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n La di\u00e1spora iran\u00ed: historia, identidad y pol\u00edtica<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n El antrop\u00f3logo William Beeman ofreci\u00f3 una perspectiva hist\u00f3rica para comprender la di\u00e1spora iran\u00ed. Explic\u00f3 que su configuraci\u00f3n actual se remonta a la revoluci\u00f3n de finales de los a\u00f1os setenta, cuando distintos grupos pol\u00edticos disputaban el poder tras la ca\u00edda del monarca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHab\u00eda tres facciones que esperaban reemplazar al gobierno: nacionalistas seculares, religiosos y marxistas isl\u00e1micos\u201d, detall\u00f3. Finalmente, el sector religioso logr\u00f3 consolidar su poder, lo que llev\u00f3 al exilio de los dem\u00e1s grupos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Actualmente, muchos de estos sectores mantienen una postura firme contra el gobierno iran\u00ed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEst\u00e1n profundamente opuestos al r\u00e9gimen actual\u201d, afirm\u00f3 Beeman. Ello explica, en parte, su inclinaci\u00f3n por posiciones pol\u00edticas m\u00e1s duras en Estados Unidos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n M\u00e1s all\u00e1 de la pol\u00edtica, Beeman destac\u00f3 la fuerte conexi\u00f3n cultural que mantiene esta comunidad con su pa\u00eds de origen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSu sentido de pertenencia y la nostalgia por su pa\u00eds son palpables\u201d, se\u00f1al\u00f3. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Esta conexi\u00f3n se manifiesta en pr\u00e1cticas culturales, celebraciones y v\u00ednculos constantes con familiares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sin embargo, tambi\u00e9n existen divisiones internas, especialmente entre los sectores que aspiran a un cambio pol\u00edtico radical. Algunos grupos, en particular entre las \u00e9lites econ\u00f3micas, mantienen la esperanza de restaurar la monarqu\u00eda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMuchos esperan que el hijo del antiguo gobernante regrese y asuma el poder\u201d, explic\u00f3. No obstante, advirti\u00f3 que esta idea carece de respaldo en el propio pa\u00eds: \u201cNo tiene apoyo en Ir\u00e1n\u201d, lo que la convierte en una aspiraci\u00f3n poco viable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n El experto tambi\u00e9n subray\u00f3 el peso de la historia en la percepci\u00f3n de la pol\u00edtica internacional. Record\u00f3 que \u201cEstados Unidos ya intervino en 1953 para reinstalar al gobernante, lo que dej\u00f3 un recuerdo muy fuerte\u201d. Este antecedente influye en la desconfianza hacia posibles intervenciones externas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Di\u00e1sporas: actores clave en un mundo interconectado<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A lo largo del encuentro, qued\u00f3 claro que las di\u00e1sporas son actores complejos, atravesados por contradicciones, divisiones generacionales y experiencias diversas. No solo participan en la pol\u00edtica estadounidense a trav\u00e9s del voto, sino que tambi\u00e9n influyen en la forma en que se interpretan los conflictos internacionales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Al mismo tiempo, las decisiones del gobierno estadounidense tienen consecuencias directas en sus vidas, lo que crea una relaci\u00f3n constante entre la pol\u00edtica interna y la externa. Como sugirieron los panelistas al inicio, estas comunidades no pueden entenderse como bloques homog\u00e9neos, sino como espacios din\u00e1micos donde convergen intereses, identidades y tensiones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n En un escenario global cada vez m\u00e1s interdependiente, comprender el papel de las di\u00e1sporas resulta fundamental para interpretar tanto la pol\u00edtica de Estados Unidos como las din\u00e1micas internacionales que la atraviesan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Against a backdrop of deepening political polarization in the United States and escalating international conflicts, migrant communities are emerging as an increasingly decisive force in shaping public debate. That reality came into sharp focus at a recent forum organized by American Community Media (ACoM), where experts examined how diasporas not only react to events in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1829,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[686,194,9],"tags":[1257,1277,2945,1040,130,828,132,86],"class_list":["post-1825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-community-media","category-california-black-media","category-ethnic-media-services","tag-acom","tag-american-community-media","tag-diasporas","tag-donald-trump","tag-immigration","tag-politics","tag-trump","tag-usa"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1825"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1825\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1826,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1825\/revisions\/1826"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Di\u00e1sporas en Estados Unidos: influencia pol\u00edtica, tensiones internas y el impacto de los conflictos globales<\/h2>\n\n\n\n