Deep-red Trump-loving Missouri town 'tested' as a 'beloved local' is detained

A report published Wednesday in The New York Times describes how an immigrant from Hong Kong, employed at a Waffle House in a small Missouri town, was detained by immigration authorities — and how her arrest impacted the tight-knit, conservative community.

"The first sign of trouble came early this month when Carol didn’t show up for her shift at John’s Waffle and Pancake House," the report notes.

"She was as reliable as the sun rising over rice and melon fields in her adopted hometown, Kennett, Mo., a conservative farming hub of 10,000 people in the state’s southeastern boot heel, where 'Missouri' becomes 'Missour-uh,'" the report adds.

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After two decades of living in Kennett, Missouri, Carol, whose legal name is Ming Li Hui, had woven herself into the fabric of the town. She juggled two waitressing jobs, took on housecleaning work, and was a beloved member of the community.

She has three children — all born in the United States: a 7-year-old daughter and two sons, ages 12 and 14, according to the report.

But on April 30, Hui was called to an immigration office in St. Louis, three hours from Kennett. Though her partner, a Guatemalan immigrant, was wary of the unexpected summons, Hui didn’t hesitate.

She told the Times: “I didn’t want to run. I just wanted to do the right thing.” She was taken into custody and now awaits deportation to her home country.

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According to the report, the woman's arrest has led to "deep reflection in this rural part of Missouri, where many residents once embraced the idea of stricter immigration enforcement under President [Donald] Trump."

"Now, with a beloved local detained, that support is being tested," the report said.

"Many are now asking how you can support Carol and also Mr. Trump."

Vanessa Cowart, a friend of Hui from church, told the Times that she voted for Trump, adding: "But no one voted to deport moms. We were all under the impression we were just getting rid of the gangs, the people who came here in droves.”

Adam Squires, a former mayoral contender in Kennett, had a different perspective. While he insisted he had nothing personal against Hui, he told the Times that, like the vast majority — around 80 percent — of Dunklin County voters, he supported Trump. For Squires, the enforcement of immigration laws in his own community was a welcome and necessary development.

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