Republican Rep. Maria Salazar of Florida says she has personally urged President Donald Trump to temper the tone and tactics of immigration enforcement in order to avoid driving away the Hispanic voters who helped power his return to the White House.
Speaking about her recent conversation with the President, Salazar described a candid but respectful exchange over how to balance border security with political reality, according to the Daily Caller. Salazar, a three-term lawmaker representing Floridas 27th Congressional District, has been endorsed by President Trump and has generally aligned herself with his agenda, yet she has also warned publicly that some enforcement measures risk alienating law-abiding Hispanic families who share conservative values.
Her latest campaign advertisement underscored that concern, featuring Salazar in front of the White House declaring that some of Trumps immigration policies have gone too far. Asked about the spot on Friday, Trump told reporters that although he disagreed with her assessment, he understands her perspective and respects her personally.
Shes a nice person, the President said when pressed on Salazars remarks. I got her elected. Without me she wouldnt have gotten elected.
CBS host Margaret Brennan confronted Salazar with her own words from the ad, noting that Salazar had said, The same Hispanics who helped [Trump] get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed, and that his enforcement efforts have gone too far, with half of the 50,000 people detained in July allegedly having no criminal record. Brennan then asked the congresswoman directly, Did he take any of your advice?
Listen, it was a very good conversation, Salazar replied, emphasizing the Presidents demeanor. He was a gentleman, very courteous, very receptive. And I told him exactly what you just repeated: Sir, you have this moment in history where you can keep the pot of gold that you brought to the GOP in 2024. No other president and you know I covered for 35 years Spanish television no other president was able to convince the Hispanics to vote 55 points for a GOP president. Please preserve that fortune that you have brought to the party.
Salazars warning carries particular weight given the demographics of her Miami-based district, where 69.6% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. She framed the stakes not merely as electoral arithmetic but as a bulwark against the advance of the left within the Democratic Party.
Why? Because we need to continue winning elections, because we have this very big threat called the socialists on the Democratic side. And if you want me, we can talk about that later, Salazar said, tying her argument to her own familys experience. I belong to the Miami community. Im the daughter of political refugees. Im first-generation American, and I want to preserve the American values that are entrenched in the GOP and that the Hispanics share. So, remember, sir, that you are the only guy who can do this.
And then we had a fantastic conversation, she added, expressing optimism that her message resonated. I certainly hope he listened to what I was saying, but he listened.
All Im trying to do Im coming from a very good place. I am a proud Republican, and I want the values of the American people to continue, Salazar said, stressing that her remarks were meant as counsel, not criticism. And I think its my duty not to attack. There are no attacks here. Im just forewarning him and advising him as a member of Congress from the South Florida area that some of his advisers are just not presenting the whole picture.
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