The End of Empathy and Venezuelan Immigrants:

Takeaways from a Survey of Venezuelans in Florida

 

Eduardo A Gamarra


Hannah Arendt's reflections on empathy caution against a society's decline into barbarism when compassion yields to division and intolerance. This erosion of empathy is vividly illustrated by a recent survey of Venezuelans in Florida, which reveals significant internal divisions within the Venezuelan-American community itself.

Historically, immigrant communities in the United States have often demonstrated solidarity, empathy, and mutual support. However, this survey reveals a troubling trend where empathy diminishes as immigrant communities become more established. Venezuelans who arrived earlier and secured citizenship or permanent residency show starkly different attitudes compared to recent arrivals, particularly those depending on temporary protections such as TPS or humanitarian parole.

The survey conducted by the Latino Public Opinion Forum at Florida International University’s Jack D. Gordon Institute (https://gordoninstitute.fiu.edu/research/latino-public-opinion-forum/assets/venezuelans-in-florida-2025.pdf) highlights these internal divisions. Venezuelans who arrived before 2000 are significantly more aligned with strict immigration policies, such as those advocated by former President Trump. About 48% of longer-term Venezuelan residents expressed strong satisfaction with Trump's immigration stance, while recent arrivals, particularly those directly affected by the termination of TPS and humanitarian parole programs, overwhelmingly viewed these policies as unjust and harmful.

Moreover, the survey highlighted how perceptions of the criminal organization "Tren de Aragua" have become politicized, reflecting broader societal shifts toward intolerance and a decline in empathetic understanding. Many Venezuelan-Americans expressed frustration that policies aimed at addressing legitimate security concerns inadvertently grouped innocent Venezuelans with criminals, amplifying feelings of vulnerability and stigmatization within their community. This phenomenon echoes Arendt's warning that empathy, when detached from political recognition of individual differences, can lead to generalized mistrust and a collective loss of humanity.

This internal fracturing closely correlates with immigration status, socioeconomic class, and time of arrival. Venezuelan-Americans who have achieved economic security and citizenship tend to be notably less empathetic toward newer migrants. For example, the decision by the Trump administration to end TPS disproportionately harmed recent Venezuelan arrivals, with nearly 80% of respondents viewing this decision as unjust. Yet, paradoxically, naturalized Venezuelan-Americans supported restrictive policies by a significant margin, suggesting a major shift toward intolerance.

Empathy's erosion among Venezuelans in Florida also appears in weakened intergenerational solidarity. The survey shows that older Venezuelans and earlier arrivals, who once might have welcomed and assisted new immigrants, now frequently adopt exclusionary stances that reflect the broader American rejection of new immigrants. This phenomenon illustrates Arendt’s notion that when a society loses its empathetic foundations, marginalized groups may internalize the dominant group's intolerant attitudes, thereby fracturing communal solidarity.

The implications of this empathy crisis extend beyond immigration policy into the broader social fabric. A significant number of respondents reported personal anxiety and a profound emotional toll stemming from sudden policy changes and social stigmatization. As one parole recipient remarked, "you don’t make unilateral decisions overnight—especially ones that affect individuals who have followed the rules," expressing deep disillusionment with American leadership and the precariousness of their future.

These findings reveal a new reality: the Venezuelan-American community in Florida mirrors the broader decline of empathy in American political culture. Internal divisions, a lack of intergenerational support, and increasingly harsh attitudes toward vulnerable members within their own community highlight the societal decline that Arendt warned about. This erosion of empathy poses a serious threat to social cohesion and underscores an urgent need for renewed civic dialogue and inclusive policy-making.

These findings illuminate a new reality: the Venezuelan-American community in Florida serves as a microcosm of the broader decline of empathy in American political culture. The survey highlights significant internal divisions and a growing lack of solidarity, particularly toward recent arrivals, underscoring the erosion of the empathetic values that have historically been integral to immigrant communities. Ultimately, this case study of Venezuelans in Florida reflects the broader societal shift away from collective compassion and toward increased fragmentation, providing a stark reminder of Hannah Arendt's cautionary insights into the social consequences when empathy is diminished.

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