Maria Elvira Salazar Warns Trump Over Hispanic Voter Alienation

Republican Representative Maria Elvira Salazar warned President Donald Trump that his administration's strict immigration enforcement is alienating Hispanic voters. In a bilingual campaign advertisement and a subsequent phone call, Salazar argued that federal operations have gone too far, noting that 50% of the 50,000 migrants detained in July had no criminal records. She urged the president to preserve the historic gains the GOP made with Hispanic voters in 2024, suggesting that some advisers are compromising his legacy by providing incomplete information.

President Donald Trump dismissed the warnings, stating he disagrees with Salazar's position and claiming her political success was due to his influence. While he described their interaction as polite, he maintained that he remains strong on border security. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security further rejected Salazar's objections, asserting there will be no amnesty for illegal immigrants.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise acknowledged that immigration is creating divisions within the Republican party but disputed Salazar's claim that Hispanic voters feel betrayed. The internal rift emerges as Republicans face potential midterm losses in Florida, Texas, Colorado, and Nevada. The dispute follows several deadly incidents involving federal immigration authorities, including the killings of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota and a shooting in Austin, Texas, currently under investigation.