Representative Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Florida), running for her fourth term in a district that is 74 percent Hispanic, released a campaign ad directly criticizing President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement policies. In the ad, Salazar states, "Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far." She highlights that half of the individuals arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in July did not have a criminal record, and warns Trump to "be careful what your advisers are telling you about immigration policy." Salazar contends that the Hispanic voters who helped Trump secure the White House in 2024 now "feel betrayed."
Salazar's ad marks a notable public break with Trump on immigration policy, a key issue for the former president. While other Republicans in competitive races might subtly distance themselves from Trump, Salazar's message is direct and outspoken. She emphasizes that she is not advocating for "amnesty," but rather for a "dignified life" for immigrants, echoing her previous support for bipartisan immigration reform, such as the Dignity Act, which proposes legal pathways for undocumented immigrants who meet specific criteria.
Salazar's district covers areas of South Florida, including parts of Miami-Dade County, with significant Cuban, Venezuelan, and Colombian communities. This district has a high percentage of foreign-born residents, and a 2026 report estimated about 216,000 people in her district were undocumented or lived with undocumented immigrants. Despite her 2024 victory with 60.4 percent of the vote and the district voting for Trump by 15 percentage points, recent polling suggests a tighter race for Salazar, with one survey showing her just 3 percentage points ahead of her Democratic challenger, Eliott Rodriguez. Her ad is seen as an attempt to address local concerns about immigration enforcement and potentially appeal to a broader base in her diverse district.
