Under Trump, the future of U.S. Latino history preservation is uncertain

The future of Latino history is in danger.

2026 budget proposed by President TrumpThe Smithsonian National Museum, which is currently under congress examination, can stop expansion plans at the National Shopping Center on DC, Washington.

Minister budget It does not provide financing for the long -awaited Latino Museum The law by Trump In the first period. The news of the 2026 budget proposal came after a walk executive order In the center of the Smithsonian Institute, “separatist, race -centered ideology ında in the center of the Smithsonian Institute, titled“ Recovering the truth and mental health to American history ”.

Instead, 26 financial budgets demand $ 5.8 million to provide funds and return to a Smithsonian Latino center model that shares Latino history and culture collections, programs and educational content in other Smithsonian institutions. This is instead of developing a Latin Museum at the National Shopping Center, which was modeled after the American Native American National Museum or the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Congress Hispanic Conference led by the Republic on June 6 sent a letter Senate and Assembly calls for the allowance committees to finance the museum.

“We also understand and support the anti -American thought and efforts to root Dei on merit -based ideology throughout our government,” he said in a letter. “Therefore, the Congress’s leadership and membership of the Spanish Conference took proactive steps to ensure that the American National Museum of Latin remains neutral.”

The Congress of the Democratic Congress Hispanic Caucus, letter On its own, to support the museum.

“Reducing these efforts through insufficient financing will be a mishap for all Americans who benefit from a more complete and inclusive historical narrative, not only for the Latin community,” he said. letter.

Currently, the American Latino Smithsonian National Museum is turning its temporary exhibitions at the Molina Family Latin Gallery of 4,500 square meters at the American National Museum.

It has recently closed its popular exhibition, “¡Sun! Latin History of the United States”The museum is now collects works and sets up the next spring exhibition,”¡Puro Rhythmo! Salsa’s musical journey. ”

“I always tell everyone that I am trying to represent more than 63 million people in the United States, Jor “But when we open a museum that will have more than 100,000 square meters of public space… Imagine the stories you can tell.”

For Zamanillo, a permanent site in the National Shopping Center will create the whole difference not only for the protection of Latino stories, but to feel that Latins have been represented on a national scale for generations. Zamanillo says, we have worked in every military conflict in the United States since the American Revolution, Az says Zamanillo.

“It is incredible when you really start to examine our existence for centuries, or he adds.

After Trump’s budget, Smithsonian Institute Budget Rights Congress. The Congress will not be finalized until any financing decision will be finalized until it exceeds a final FY26 allowance.

Zamanillo knows that a primary point in the National Shopping Center may take longer than expected, but he says a “generation project çıkan once again.

“We do this for our children and grandchildren, to make sure they will not have the same problems. [with] Feeling inadequate, Zaman says Zamanillo.

Latinos heritage areas are at risk

However, while the Trump administration attracts everyone Diversity, equality and invasion attemptsThe future of the preservation of Latino history, including grants related to equity, may face mishaps.

Trump one on May 2 158 million dollars cut Effectively eliminating the financing of the Federal Historical Protection Fund, including the inadequate represented community grant, which plays an important national role in supporting more inclusive protection efforts.

Requested national park service zero fund For the next financial year. Times reached the NPS to gradually interpret the grant program, but did not return.

Earlier this year, Latins in Heritage Protection, a national network that focuses on supporting Latino protection efforts 95,000 National Historical Places Registration It was associated with the Latin heritage against the United States. The results were terrible.

LHC found that only 0.65% of the current registered sites in the United States reflected Latino history after analyzing survey data from state historical protection offices and public information on the Historical Protection Fund of the National Park Service. website.

Historical areas can be culturally or spiritually important emblems and areas, including a house, monument or cemetery, which is considered worthy of protection.

For example in Los Angeles, Epifen church Lincoln Heights is listed with its importance for the Civil Rights Movement of Chicano. By the way, Boyle Heights’ Forsythe Girls Memorial SchoolA Protestant Missionary School trying to American Mexican girls is also on the list of historical places.

The Church of the Epifan in Lincoln Heights.

(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

However, while thinking about the fact that the Latins compensate, the lack of historical site representation is even more sad roughly 20% The population of the United States. “That’s why we have to do this, Süt says LHC General Manager Sehila Mota Casper.

Since 2014, LHC has worked to protect and catalog the Latino dates that may have been overlooked by the main textbooks, museums and the federal government.

Without the national inventory of the Latin heritage areas, they remain invisible for organizations that can finance and protect them. LHC designed its own protection grant, NUESTRA HERENCIA GRANTIt is the first grant program dedicated to the country’s country’s Latin heritage projects. Opening Cycle, Blackwell School From 1909 to 1965, Marfa is the only Public Educational Institution for Mexican American students of the city.

LHC also started Abuelas project In 2021 – to help fill the gaps of folk knowledge – which usually respects the cultural carriers in Latin families. The National Digital Library combines 26 oral history, 700 photographs and other materials sent by the community.

“We wanted to create something that allows us to look outside these parameters [in museums and libraries]And accept that colonization has erased our history, Mota says Mota Casper, who has been the Latino Protection Championship for more than a decade.

One of the Abuelas project, Brasero ProgramBetween 1942 and 1964, the temporary program that brought Mexican workers due to problems of agriculture and railway labor. The program played an integral role in shaping national identities and communities and relations with the USA.

“Aim [of the Abuelas Project] It is to find sites and stories that someone knows it was real, but it wasn’t in the local newspaper, not online, not in history books, Mota says Mota Casper Abuelas project.

Today, however, Rio Vista Farm, which is only a historical site, was left to tell the story. . processing centerIn the past, Rio Vista Brapero reception center was called a national historical turning point in 2023 through a community grant, which was not sufficiently represented by the Minister of the Interior.

“This date is not only important for us to tell the right story for us, but also important to ensure that our contributions are seen and felt for future generations, M said Mota Casper.