Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) said on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, that she spoke with President Trump to warn that his administration's immigration enforcement policies risk alienating Hispanic voters. The conversation followed the release of a campaign advertisement by Salazar in which she stated that enforcement efforts have "gone too far" and argued that Hispanic voters who supported Trump in 2024 now "feel betrayed."
Salazar, a Cuban American who has served in Congress since 2021, represents a Miami-area district where nearly three-quarters of the population is Hispanic. During an interview on CBS's "Face the Nation," she described the president as "receptive" during their call, urging him to preserve the "fortune" of Hispanic support he gained in the 2024 election. Trump told reporters on Friday, Sept. 18, that while he still supports Salazar's reelection, he disagreed with her stance, stating, "I'm very strong on the borders — and she isn't."
In her campaign ad, Salazar cited data indicating that half of the 50,000 people detained by immigration authorities in July had no criminal record. She argued that the administration should distinguish between "the gangster and the gardener," suggesting that the president’s advisers are "compromising his legacy" by not presenting a full picture of the impact of enforcement. Salazar’s Democratic opponent, former news anchor Eliott Rodriguez, stated that the congresswoman waited until her "political future was in danger" to speak out after previously supporting the president’s agenda.
A resident in this South Florida district might see their representative publicly challenge the leader of their own party weeks before the November 3 midterm elections. These voters will see the bilingual campaign ads in both English and Spanish as Salazar seeks to maintain her seat in a district encompassing Miami, Coral Gables, Palmetto Bay, and Cutler Bay.
Salazar introduced a reform bill called the Dignity Act five years ago. She claims that agricultural, construction, and hospitality workers are being caught in sweeping enforcement actions. Voters will cast their ballots in the midterm elections on November 3, 2026.