Spanish has always meant someone south of the border of the U.S.

Hope it’s not weird to ask but are you from the eastern part of the US? I’m from the west coast and I would feel comfortable saying that people never use “Spanish” to refer to “people from predominantly Spanish-speaking countries south of the border.” If people want to use a generic term they say “Latin American” or “Latino” or “Hispanic”. I have only heard of the use “Spanish” to mean that on Law and Order lol

Also I’ve only really heard Spanish/Spaniard used as ways to refer to the people and culture of Spain.

Anyway I hope that wasn’t antagonizing, I’ve just never seen a person use Spanish like that “in the wild” and wanted to ask.