A GOP lawmaker from the House is facing criticism from her Republican peers after she took aim at President Donald Trump’s immigration policy. Rep. María Elvira Salazar of Florida shared a campaign ad on Thursday that condemned Trump’s approach to immigration enforcement, particularly his actions towards individuals without criminal records.
In response, leaders of the House Freedom Caucus issued a statement emphasizing support for Trump’s immigration efforts. They stated that all individuals who enter the U.S. illegally are committing a crime, and they advocated for the deportation of all illegal immigrants. Their position asserted that the U.S. government should prioritize the dignity of its citizens while making clear that illegal immigrants should either return to their home countries or enter the U.S. through legal channels.
Salazar’s ad features her speaking directly to the camera outside the White House. She warned the President that some of his immigration enforcement actions might have exceeded reasonable bounds, cautioning him about the advice he’s receiving regarding immigration policy. Salazar expressed that many Hispanics, who had supported Trump’s election in 2024, now feel let down.
She made a notable analogy, suggesting that he could champion immigration reform in a way that parallels Abraham Lincoln’s stance on slavery or Ronald Reagan’s on communism. However, she clarified that she wasn’t proposing amnesty, but rather advocating for a dignified life for immigrants living in the U.S.
This stance is somewhat surprising since her district voted heavily for Trump in the last election. Yet, it reflects a concern among some Hispanic lawmakers about the potential alienation of Hispanic and Latino voters crucial to the party’s recent successes.
Her district in South Florida leans Republican, but Democrats are eyeing it as a viable target as they aim to regain control of the House. Salazar has previously faced backlash from the Freedom Caucus for her bipartisan efforts to reform the asylum process and provide legal pathways for undocumented residents who haven’t committed crimes.
In a further rebuttal, the Department of Homeland Security pushed back against Salazar, asserting that they are committed to implementing the most extensive mass deportation campaign in U.S. history, as promised by Trump. They pointed out that the enforcement actions are in line with the laws set by Congress, reiterating that, whether Salazar agrees or not, the priority is enforcing those laws rather than extending favors to illegal immigrants.
