Hoosier Enquirer: A Hispanic American Voice Raises Alarm Over Federal Overreach

By Gabe Whitley, Editor-in-Chief

Published: June 8th, 2025, 9:41 PM EST

As the sun sets over the tranquil waters near my Indiana home, the American flag waves proudly in the breeze—a symbol I’ve always held dear. Yet, as a Hispanic American and the Editor-in-Chief of the Hoosier Enquirer, I find myself compelled to address a growing unease within our community. In a post on X earlier today, I expressed my deep disappointment and frustration with the direction of our federal government under President Trump, a leader I once supported with three votes. The time has come to confront a troubling reality: the weaponization of federal agencies like ICE against Hispanic Americans is fundamentally un-American, and it’s time for a reckoning.

A Shift from Promises to Persecution

My journey with the Republican Party began with hope. I voted for Trump to prioritize America First, secure our southern border, stabilize our economy, and curb reckless spending. However, the reality of 2025 paints a starkly different picture. Recent data from Wikipedia’s entry on Trump’s deportation policies reveals a surge in ICE raids since January, with over 46,000 individuals in custody by mid-March. This escalation contradicts the President’s 2016 campaign promise to target only those convicted of violent crimes. Instead, families are being torn apart, U.S. citizens are wrongfully detained, and communities—particularly Hispanic ones—are living in fear.

The Hispanic Federation’s statement from January 24, 2025, echoes this sentiment, condemning the raids as a “repudiation of American democratic values.” Reports of warrantless searches and deportation quotas within ICE offices further erode constitutional protections, a concern I cannot ignore as a journalist and a citizen.

Economic Promises Unfulfilled

Trump’s economic policies were another cornerstone of my support. Yet, the Tax Foundation’s analysis of the 2025 budget reconciliation reveals a $5.3 trillion deficit-financed tax cut, paired with $521 billion in increased spending on defense and immigration. Far from fixing the economy, this fiscal approach has fueled inflation, disproportionately hurting Hispanic and Black families, as noted during the June 2027 debate. Economist Tara Sinclair of George Washington University has pointed out that the recovery pace under Biden’s early term was slower due to a weaker starting economy, yet Trump’s policies have failed to deliver the prosperity I anticipated.

Hoosier Enquirer has long championed fiscal responsibility, and I find it disheartening that the deficit continues to climb, undermining the very principles I endorsed.

Weaponization: A Modern-Day Concern

My comparison of ICE to a “modern-day Nazi regime” in my X post may stir debate, but it stems from a place of genuine alarm. The House Judiciary Committee’s 17,000-page report, released in December 2024, documents instances of federal law enforcement overreach under the Biden-Harris administration, a trend that appears to have intensified. While peer-reviewed studies are yet to fully validate the extent of racial targeting, the anecdotal evidence—families separated, communities silenced—resonates deeply within Hispanic enclaves across Indiana and beyond.

I ask: why is flying the American flag met with suspicion for us Hispanics, while other national flags are celebrated? This double standard feels like a betrayal of the inclusivity I once believed in.

A Call to Action

As Editor-in-Chief, I’ve always sought to amplify Hoosier voices, and today, I stand with my Hispanic brothers and sisters. The suggestion of concentration camps may seem extreme, but the fear is real when rights are trampled. I call for an overthrow of this government overreach—not through violence, but through the power of the Second Amendment’s spirit: our right to resist tyranny at the ballot box and in the courts. Ending the Federal Reserve’s unchecked influence is also a step toward reclaiming economic sovereignty.

To my fellow Republicans, I urge a return to the party’s roots of individual liberty and fairness. To President Trump, I plead: this is not the America First vision I voted for. Let us rebuild trust, not walls of division.

Hoosier Enquirer will continue to investigate these issues, providing a platform for all Hoosiers to speak. Join me in this fight for justice—because the flag I salute demands nothing less.

Gabe Whitley is the Editor-in-Chief of the Hoosier Enquirer and a proud Hispanic American. Follow him on X @realhonestgabe for updates.