California’s Influence on National Trends
The saying “Like going to California, so too are the nation” illustrates the significant political and cultural impact California has had on the United States. Over the years, issues ranging from environmental policies to civil rights movements have often originated from the state, impacting the national landscape.
If this trend persists, recent anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles—where demonstrators have burned cars, clashed with police, and prominently displayed Mexican flags—might serve as a stark warning. These events highlight a critical juncture in immigration and demographic dynamics in the U.S.
As Michael Anton, author of *The Stakes*, suggests, California was once a “middle class paradise.” Yet, he argues, over a generation, it has morphed into a predominantly left-liberal state.
But how did we get here? A lot of it can be traced back to demographic shifts.
Back in 1960, around 92% of Californians identified as white. Today, that figure has dropped to just 34%. Meanwhile, the population born abroad has risen to about 27%.
In urban areas like Los Angeles, this transformation is even more significant. Currently, more than 35% of the city’s residents were born outside the U.S., with nearly 47% identifying as Hispanic or Latinx. It’s hard to imagine that California was once a state that Ronald Reagan captured in consecutive elections. Now, it’s solidly blue, especially as immigration patterns shifted post-Reagan’s 1986 bill that offered amnesty to millions.
This is why Democrats emphasize the need for a “path to citizenship” for the so-called “11 million” undocumented immigrants—though estimates suggest it’s likely over 22 million. Given that legal Latino voters shifted slightly toward Trump in 2024, Democrats see an opportunity to boost their voter base significantly.
Reagan’s immigration policies may have been pivotal, but they weren’t the sole factor. Major demographic changes began with the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which transitioned the U.S. towards a more global immigration policy, moving away from a focus on European immigrants.
Historically, the majority of legal immigrants came from Europe or Canada, but by 2018, that composition shifted dramatically. About 30% of immigrants were from Asia; 23% were born in Mexico, and a considerable percentage hailed from Latin America and beyond.
Europeans now make up just 12% of the immigrant population, a significant decline from 1960. It’s also essential to remember that these figures focus solely on legal immigrants, and a large portion of undocumented individuals come from Latin America, further altering the demographics.
In 2025, the foreign-born population reached an all-time high of 53.3 million, making up 15.8% of the total U.S. populace, a noticeable increase from 4.7% in 1970.
If that sounds troubling, the situation may be even more complex. The U.S. birthright citizenship law means that any child born on U.S. soil automatically becomes a citizen, establishing pathways for family reunification and further immigration through what is known as “chain migration.”
These changes often go unacknowledged, lest criticism arise. As advocates argue, “diversity is our strength.”
In his essays, Anton portrays the demographic reality that Americans are grappling with. He notes a “great exchange” happening not just in the U.S., but across the West, often denied by elites while simultaneously recognized in other contexts.
“A ‘great exchange’ is happening not only in the US but also in the West. The elite deny it and assert it. It’s a good thing to write an Op-Ed entitled ‘We Can Replace Them’ in the New York Times.”
The unrest in Los Angeles isn’t isolated but rather a foreshadowing of what might arise if the ongoing trends continue. This chaos serves as a precursor to larger national tensions tied to immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
The immigration crisis unfolding in the streets of Los Angeles reflects deeper issues at play regarding national and cultural sovereignty. Without rigorous immigration controls and a reconsideration of current citizenship policies, the U.S. may face a permanent political shift, a degradation of citizenry, and a long-lasting loss of national identity.
