Hispanics making pro-Trump voices heard in Houston

John Coronado rallies Trump supporters at the intersection of Pansy Street and Fairmont Parkway on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Pasadena. John Coronado rallies Trump supporters at the intersection of Pansy Street and Fairmont Parkway on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Pasadena. Photo: Annie Mulligan / For The Houston Chronicle Photo: Annie Mulligan / For The Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 89 Caption Close Hispanics making pro-Trump voices heard in Houston 1 / 89 Back to Gallery

What Houston's Hispanic Donald Trump supporters lack in experience, they make up for in fervor.

Even in Sunday's sweltering 93-degree heat, about a dozen members of the Houston Trump Latino Coalition jumped up and down, blew kisses and ran up to cars to try to win the support of passers-by at the corner of Pansy and Fairmont in Pasadena.

They weren't always successful. "Whenever they flip you the finger, just blow them a kiss," suggested one supporter.

The Pasadena gathering was the first of two roadside demonstrations Sunday for the group that just formed in June.

Co-founder Renee Garza clutched her Trump cut-out as she explained that the candidate's controversial comments about Mexicans have been spun and misconstrued.

"The mainstream media has not done a good job of covering him," she said.

"He said, 'some,'" she added, referencing the billionaire's now infamous comment during his June 2015 candidacy announcement when he said Mexico doesn't send its best people to the U.S.

"They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people," he said last year.

Three generations ago, Garza's family came to the U.S. from Spain, settling in what was then Mexico.

But she's not concerned about the reality star's comments about Mexicans or his plans for mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.

"If you look at his 10-point plan, by the time he gets to the 11 million, it may be the end of eight years," she said. "But I don't think there's anything wrong with asking people to come in legally. It's just to keep our country safe.

"I think it's important for undocumented people to realize they don't have to live in the shadows anymore."

Wearing a Make America Great Hat and a light-up Trump lanyard, Sylvia Castillo of Cypress shared in her co-founder's sunny support of the Republican nominee.

Castillo is of Mexican descent, though she was quick to point out that her family has been in the U.S. for at least three generations. In addition to her involvement in the Houston Trump Latino Coalition, the mother of four volunteers with The Remembrance Project - a nonprofit that hosted the candidate's Houston visit Saturday.

The 40-something is a relatively recent addition to the Republican Party. "I voted Democratic until eight years ago - because that's what I was taught by my parents," she said.

"I'm pro-life. I'm for our military and law enforcement." She's also not opposed to the use of torture in certain circumstances and doesn't mind temporarily closing the country to Muslim immigrants.

"Right now we need to close everything to figure out who's here and who's not here with good intentions," she said.

The long-time airline industry employee repeatedly paused to hand out miniature flags and Trump/Pence bumper stickers, apologizing with a contagious smile every time she returned to the curb.

A long-time Trump fan, she took a minute off from her roadside rallying to share pictures of the time The Donald touched her 13-year-old daughter's cheek at a campaign event in The Woodlands.

"He was very fatherly," she said, echoing Garza's criticism of media's portrayal of the GOP candidate.

As the avid supporters explained their positions and proselytized to passerby, four jets flew over the demonstration, momentarily drowning out the small crowd's ebullient shouts, which they took as a sign of God's approval.