Florida Republican Representative Maria Elvira Salazar launched a campaign advertisement directly challenging President Donald Trump's immigration agenda, marking a rare public break from within his own party just months before midterm elections.
In the ad, Salazar speaks directly to the camera and tells Trump that "some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far." She cited data showing that 50 percent of people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in July had no criminal record. "Be careful what your advisers are telling you about immigration policy," Salazar said in the spot. "The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024, feel betrayed today."
Salazar did not ask Trump to grant "amnesty" but to give immigrants "a dignified life in this promised land."
President Trump confirmed Friday that he had seen the ad. "I disagree with her," he said from the Oval Office. He claimed Salazar "got a little bit soft on the border" and asserted she would not have won her seat without his endorsement.
Salazar is seeking re-election in Florida's 27th Congressional District, which covers much of Miami-Dade County and is about three-quarters Hispanic. Trump won the district by nearly 15 points in 2024.
Her public criticism reflects growing alarm among Republicans that the party is losing Latino support. That concern has intensified following a series of ICE raids, increased patrolling in U.S. cities, and confrontations between federal agents and protesters. The incidents include the killings of two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, by federal agents in Minneapolis.
ICE arrests have spiked sharply under Trump's second term. In August, the agency arrested approximately 51,000 people, a new high under Trump's current administration, surpassing the previous monthly peak of more than 46,000 in July. Since Trump took office, ICE has operated under White House-imposed quotas, broadening arrest criteria beyond individuals posing public safety or national security threats.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has defended the crackdown in recent weeks, though he has faced criticism from parts of the MAGA base who argue he has not been aggressive enough.
Following the ad's release, Salazar spoke with Trump. She described the conversation as "very good," saying Trump was "a gentleman, very courteous, very receptive."
