COLUMBUS, N.M.— At the edge of town on a desolate road 4 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, Irma González, 72, sat in a cushioned desk chair as the hum of Mexican telenovelas filled her otherwise empty diner.

When the lunch rush came, some customers would love her décor; others wouldn’t be fans, said González, sole host and cook of Irma’s Kitchen. She pointed beside the kitchen door to a Christmas tree strewn with the framed image and memorabilia of President Donald Trump. A large “Trump 2024” sign was propped up outside to greet the motorists.

A more than 30-year resident of Columbus, a border town of around 1,300 people, González likes the Republican president, who has come to be known for his hard-line immigration policies. Immigrants deserve criticism for not fixing their legal statu

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