On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed a historic executive order aimed at expanding opportunities for Hispanic Americans. The signing came after Trump held a roundtable discussion with Hispanic American business and government leaders at the White House.

In a speech at the Rose Garden, the president touted the newly-implemented Hispanic Prosperity Initiative to expand school choice and improve access to trade schools for Hispanic students. It will also improve access to civic education, family engagement, and personalized learning.

The initiative will also provide more career pathways and boost investments in economically distressed communities. The plan expands the opportunity zones to spur investments within low-income neighborhoods and offer more economic opportunities for small businesses owned by minorities, Wane.com reports.

Under the recently-signed order, the government will establish the Advisory Commission on Hispanic Prosperity. The commission will function as President Trump's adviser on ways to promote apprenticeship, internships, and fellowships to in-demand jobs for the Hispanics living in the United States.

According to Judd Deere, the White House deputy press secretary, the commission is responsible for identifying the best practices for Hispanic students' school choice. It will also encourage private-sector initiatives as well as create public-private partnerships in minority communities across the country.

Uplifting Hispanic American Workers

A statement released by the White House championed the record Hispanic unemployment rate of 3.9 percent under the Trump administration.

The statement also claimed that over 611,000 Hispanic Americans were lifted out of poverty, reaching the lowest level record in 2018. The administration attributed the decrease in poverty rates to the "historic high" in the median income for Hispanic households, which surpassed $50,000 under Trump's pro-growth policies.

Courting Latino Voters

In recent days, Trump lauded the administration's progress in expanding the wall along the border. He also vowed to renew his effort in removing protections for undocumented immigrants known as "Dreamers," U.S. News reports. At the same time, the White House is making a campaign for Hispanic voters.

On Wednesday, Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador visited the White House to sign a bill that would give better incentives for factories operating in Canada, Mexico, or the U.S. 

It would also impose sweeping changes on Mexico's labor system and help break corrupt unions.

Experts see the latest executive order as the president's attempt at courting Latino voters ahead of the November elections.

In 2016, Trump won roughly three in ten Latino voters. In June, a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center showed. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden won 66 percent of Hispanic voters, while Trump has 32 percent.

However, the same poll showed Trump securing a three-point edge against Biden regarding his economic management and policies.

A New York Times poll also echoed the results from the Pew Research Center, with 50 percent of voters giving Trump favorable marks on the economy issue, as reported by Vox.

Want to read more?