Five Years After El Paso Shooting, Rhetoric Against Latinos Grows

Paul Jamrowski, father of Jordan Anchondo, who died heroically shielding her infant son during the El Paso mass shooting, plans to spend the day remembering his daughter and her husband, Andre. However, due to a gag order in the ongoing state case against the shooter, Jamrowski is unable to discuss the gunman's motivations. The shooter received a sentence of 90 consecutive life terms after pleading guilty to federal hate crime charges. In the aftermath of the tragedy, community leaders are expressing concern over the resurgence of inflammatory language surrounding immigration and border issues. Organizations such as Human Rights First and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund have noted that rhetoric used by former President Donald Trump, which described the border as under “invasion,” has been echoed by numerous Republican figures since the El Paso shooting. This language has been linked to a broader normalization of hate speech, particularly the "great replacement theory." Research from America’s Voice indicates that 165 current members of Congress have amplified these harmful narratives in the five years since the El Paso massacre. In the first seven months of this year alone, congressional members have invoked “invasion” rhetoric over 650 times on social media and introduced 11 related legislative proposals. This trend raises alarms about the ongoing threat posed by such bigoted conspiracy theories to public safety and democracy. As communities grapple with the implications of this rhetoric, advocates stress the importance of discussing border policy without resorting to demonization of migrants. The rising support for stricter border measures among voters, including Hispanics, highlights the need for responsible advocacy that prioritizes human dignity.