Key facts
- Republican Representative María Elvira Salazar warned President Donald Trump that some of his advisers are not presenting the whole picture on immigration policy.
- Salazar stated that 70% of Americans want some type of immigration reform.
- Salazar noted that 50% of undocumented immigrants detained in July had no criminal record.
- President Donald Trump responded to Salazar's criticisms, stating she "obviously doesn’t have a very strong feeling about the border."
- Steve Scalise acknowledged disagreements within the Republican party on how to secure the border.
Republican Representative María Elvira Salazar has doubled down on her criticism of President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement policies, warning that his administration's approach risks alienating Hispanic voters. In an interview with CBS News's Face the Nation, Salazar, who is in a tight re-election race in Florida, stated that some of Trump's advisers were not presenting a complete picture of the consequences of mass deportations.
Salazar specifically highlighted that in July, 50% of the 50,000 individuals detained had no criminal record, suggesting that hardworking, taxpaying undocumented immigrants were being caught up in aggressive federal sweeps. She emphasized that Trump, as the sole elected official in the White House, must decide whose advice to heed.
Recent opinion polls indicate that a growing number of Hispanic voters, who were instrumental in Trump's 2024 victory, are now distancing themselves from him due to concerns over the economy and his hardline immigration stance. Salazar, a first-generation American, expressed a desire to preserve American values she believes are shared by Hispanics and are entrenched in the Republican party.
President Trump responded to Salazar's criticisms, asserting that she "obviously doesn’t have a very strong feeling about the border" and that "Without me, she wouldn’t have gotten elected." His comments underscore a potential rift within the Republican party over immigration strategy.
Steve Scalise, House Republican Whip, acknowledged that immigration is a source of division within the party, though he disagreed with Salazar's assertion that many Hispanic voters feel betrayed.