GOP congresswoman says Trump immigration enforcement has "gone too far"
"The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed," said Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar.
Republican Florida Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, a Cuban-American, criticized President Trump in a recent campaign ad, alleging that some of his immigration enforcement actions have crossed the line and that Hispanic voters who helped him win in 2024 now feel betrayed. Salazar, who has been vocal about her concerns regarding Trump's deportation policies before, emphasized her message as a cautionary tale for GOP candidates just weeks before the midterm elections.
She stated, "Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far." Salazar pointed out that in July, 50% of the 50,000 individuals detained had no criminal record and urged caution regarding immigration policy. She concluded by saying, "You can be for immigration what Lincoln was for slavery and Reagan was for communism.
I'm not talking about giving them amnesty. I'm talking about giving them a dignified life in this promised land." Salazar's district in Miami is Republican-leaning, with nearly three-quarters of its population being Hispanic, according to Census Bureau data. A recent CBS News poll revealed that 55% of Americans disapprove of the president's handling of immigration, while 45% approved, with his overall approval rating standing at 39%.
Salazar, a Congresswoman since 2021, is up for reelection against Democratic challenger Eliott Rodriguez, a former CBS News Miami news anchor who secured his primary to challenge Salazar in August.
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
