Trump-Backed GOP Rep. María Elvira Salazar Says Immigration Crackdown Has ‘Gone Too Far’

Republican Rep. María Elvira Salazar is publicly breaking with President Donald Trump over his administration’s immigration enforcement campaign, arguing that the crackdown has expanded beyond targeting dangerous criminals and is alienating Hispanic voters who supported Trump in 2024.

Salazar, who represents a heavily Hispanic South Florida district, delivered the message in a new bilingual campaign advertisement filmed near the White House. She said she continues to support removing criminals and securing the border but believes current enforcement tactics have become too aggressive.

“Mr. President, immigration enforcement has gone too far,” Salazar said in the advertisement. She pointed to federal data indicating that roughly half of people detained by immigration authorities in July did not have criminal records and argued that enforcement should focus more heavily on people who pose threats to public safety.

Salazar also warned Trump that some Hispanic voters who helped return him to the White House now feel betrayed by the administration’s approach. She urged him to reconsider aspects of the crackdown and suggested that some advisers surrounding the president may not accurately reflect the concerns being expressed in Hispanic communities.

The criticism is notable because Trump previously endorsed Salazar and praised her record on issues including border security and the economy. Salazar has supported major portions of the Republican agenda, but immigration has long been an area where she has advocated an approach combining tougher border enforcement with legal status for some undocumented immigrants already living in the United States.

Salazar has promoted bipartisan immigration legislation that would create pathways to legal permanent residency for certain undocumented immigrants who meet eligibility requirements. Her position has placed her at odds with Republicans who favor a broader deportation strategy without providing additional legalization opportunities.

The Department of Homeland Security defended the administration’s enforcement campaign following Salazar’s criticism. Officials maintain that the administration is carrying out immigration laws and fulfilling Trump’s campaign promise to significantly increase deportations of people living in the country illegally.

Salazar’s comments come less than two months before the midterm elections as she seeks another term in Congress. She faces Democratic challenger Eliott Rodriguez in her South Florida district, making her immigration message part of an active reelection campaign. Rodriguez has accused Salazar of attempting to distance herself from Trump when politically convenient.

She is also not the only Republican expressing concerns about aspects of the administration’s immigration enforcement. Reuters reports that Republican Reps. Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa have also distanced themselves from parts of Trump’s approach as the midterms approach.

Salazar nevertheless framed her appeal as an attempt to persuade Trump rather than a broader rejection of his presidency. She continues to support stronger border security and deportation of criminals while arguing that the administration should change how it handles undocumented immigrants who have not committed other crimes.