Hispanic Leaders Welcome Trump's New Era With Optimism, But Also With Caution.

This article was originally featured on CNN en Español and can be found on their website here.

As attendees at the official Hispanic Inaugural Ball search for their seats, the halls of the venue fill with action. A group of cameramen and reporters try to capture the arrival of Argentine President Javier Milei, who rushes to participate in the event, where he is greeted like a celebrity.

“It's a great pleasure to receive recognition from Latinos in the United States for the enormous work we're doing to restore freedom in Argentina. Economic freedom, let's say, freedom in its truest sense, to free ourselves from all the shackles that have impoverished us over the last hundred years,” he tells us as his security team tries to clear a path for him and the crowd tries to greet him or take selfies.

But despite the attention the president receives, he's not the star here: the protagonist is Donald Trump. Hundreds of Hispanics dressed in evening clothes from across the country gathered at the Omni Hotel in Washington to celebrate the start of his second term.

“Everyone has come because they've realized that this is just one community—Democrat, Republican, it doesn't matter, we're one community,” says Javier Palomarez, president of the U.S. Hispanic Business Council, one of the event's organizers.

Although the majority of attendees are Republicans or Trump supporters, those who believe it's important to work with the president on issues of interest to the community also attend.

This is the case for Miche Zajur, president of the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, who said he was present in recognition of the large number of Hispanics who voted for Trump in the last election. Like others we spoke with, he hopes the second Trump administration will improve the economy.

Also attending this party were Hispanics who considered themselves Democrats but switched parties because they shared priorities with the president-elect. This included Tano Tijerina, a judge in Webb County, Texas, which includes the city of Laredo. For the first time in 100 years, Tijerina voted overwhelmingly for a Republican presidential candidate. Tijerina says he switched parties because he disagreed with the Biden administration's policies, especially on immigration issues.

This is perhaps the issue that generates the most cautious reactions among those we interviewed. Many acknowledge that it is a priority of the incoming administration, which has promised mass deportations. However, they expect these actions to focus on undocumented immigrants with criminal records.

Yesli Vega, who lost the 2022 election to the Virginia House of Representatives, says the Latino community shouldn't be afraid. "Don't be fooled by the lies being spread. If you're a person here working honestly, respecting the law, there's no problem." She adds that those who should be concerned are immigrants with criminal records.

George Carrillo, president of the Hispanic Construction Council, acknowledges that there is fear in the community, but also hopes that immigration enforcement will focus on those who have committed crimes. He says he's optimistic about Trump's possible decisions, especially for "Dreamers," young people who arrived as children and are protected from deportation.

Trump's relationship with Latin America was also highlighted at the dance, which was accompanied by Mariachi Vargas Internacional.

Newly elected Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, of Colombian descent, said he looks forward to a renewed relationship with the region. “We are beginning a new relationship to have a business system with South America in the United States, but with a South America that is free, that has leaders who are not corrupt, and where immigration is legal, not illegal,” Moreno said.

He dismisses the negative reactions south of the border when Trump says he wants to regain control of the Panama Canal or rename the Gulf of Mexico. He asserts that Panama is violating the treaty that gave it control of the canal by allowing Chinese firms to operate, which he says influence the waterway's operations—accusations Panamanian officials have rejected. He also warns that Washington must do more to prevent Beijing from increasing its influence in the region.