Dreamers Criticize Nicky Jam for Endorsing Trump, Who Tried to End DACA

Dreamers and advocates for immigrant rights are expressing disappointment with reggaeton artist Nicky Jam following his recent endorsement of former President Donald Trump. The endorsement has particularly upset Dreamers like Adrian Escárate, a former DACA recipient who once appeared in a 2018 video with Nicky Jam promoting support for Dreamers facing the Trump administration’s attempts to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

DACA, established in 2012, protects undocumented individuals who came to the U.S. as children from deportation and allows them to work and study legally. In 2017, Trump sought to terminate DACA, but the Supreme Court blocked his efforts. Nonetheless, the Trump administration's actions left thousands of DACA recipients, known as Dreamers, in legal limbo.

Escárate, now a senior media strategist at the National Immigration Law Center, shared his frustration on X (formerly Twitter), accusing Nicky Jam of using Dreamers to promote his music only to “sell out” the community by endorsing Trump. "Thanks for nothing," Escárate tweeted, recalling his conversation with Jam in the 2018 video where they discussed the dangers of losing DACA protections. In that video, Jam had voiced his disapproval of Trump's initial comments on immigration, stating, "It's obviously a racist situation."

Juan Escalante, another prominent DACA recipient and activist, echoed Escárate’s sentiments, calling Nicky Jam’s endorsement hypocritical. "Nicky Jam’s hypocrisy has no limits," Escalante wrote on X, underscoring how the singer’s public stance has shifted dramatically since his prior support of DACA recipients.

Despite the backlash, Nicky Jam appeared onstage with Trump at a rally in Las Vegas last Friday, sparking a mixture of memes and disbelief on social media. Trump mistakenly introduced Jam as a woman, saying, “Latin music superstar Nicky Jam, do you know Nicky? She’s hot,” before correcting himself when Jam joined him at the podium.

The appearance, though filled with humorous mishaps, did not sit well with many fans, particularly as Nicky Jam expressed his admiration for Trump onstage, calling it an “honor” to meet him. Addressing the crowd, Jam, who is of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent, added in Spanish, “It’s been four years, and nothing has happened. We need Trump. Let’s make America great again.”

Nicky Jam’s endorsement led to immediate consequences, including the decision by the acclaimed Mexican rock band Maná to pull their song "De Pies a Cabeza," a collaboration with Jam, from streaming platforms. The band, long-standing critics of Trump, issued a statement explaining their decision: “For the past 30 years, Maná has supported and defended the rights of Latinos around the world. There is no business or promotion that is worth more than the dignity of our people."

The controversy also reignited discussions about the uncertain future of the DACA program, which remains embroiled in a lengthy legal battle. Although Trump was unable to terminate DACA, lawsuits from nine Republican-led states, as well as rulings from a federal judge in Texas, have severely limited its scope. While current recipients can continue to renew their DACA status, new applications remain frozen, leaving hundreds of thousands in legal limbo.

DACA has long been hailed as one of the most successful immigration policies in the U.S., helping integrate undocumented young adults who arrived in the country as children. Today, around 580,000 individuals are protected under DACA, with the average recipient having lived in the U.S. for over 16 years. However, an estimated 400,000 eligible applicants have been excluded due to the freeze on new applications, including 93,000 first-time applicants who filed the necessary paperwork but have been left waiting.

Bruna Sollod, senior communications and political director with United We Dream, emphasized the far-reaching consequences of ending DACA, stating, "DACA is not just about the recipients; it’s about the ripple effect that would be caused if the program were to end." Nearly half of DACA recipients are now married, and many have children, deepening the program's significance for families across the U.S.

While Nicky Jam’s endorsement of Trump has drawn ire from the Dreamer community, other reggaeton artists have also voiced support for the former president, sparking debate within the Latino community about the intersection of politics, immigration, and celebrity influence. Astrid Silva, a prominent immigration activist and co-founder of the nonprofit Dream Big Nevada, pointed out that while individuals are free to support the political candidate of their choice, it’s important for fans and advocates to continue questioning the motivations behind such endorsements.

With DACA’s fate still uncertain, many advocates are using this moment to remind the public of the ongoing legal battles that could determine the futures of thousands of Dreamers. Silva stressed that the program, though limited in scope today, remains a lifeline for recipients who continue to navigate the complexities of U.S. immigration law.

Nicky Jam’s recent endorsement of Donald Trump has ignited controversy, particularly among the Dreamers who once viewed him as an ally in the fight to protect DACA. As the debate over immigration and DACA continues to unfold, the fallout from the endorsement underscores the complex relationship between celebrity influence and political discourse, particularly within the Latino community. At a time when DACA's future remains uncertain, the voices of Dreamers and their advocates remain critical in shaping the narrative around immigration reform in the U.S.