Donald Trump Clashes With GOP Ally Maria Elvira Salazar Over Immigration

Republican Representative Maria Elvira Salazar released a campaign advertisement on September 17, 2026, publicly breaking with President Donald Trump over his administration's immigration enforcement tactics. Filmed outside the White House, Salazar argued that some enforcement efforts have "gone too far," citing data that 50 percent of the 50,000 people detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in July had no criminal record. She warned that Hispanic voters who supported Trump in 2024 now feel betrayed and urged the president to provide immigrants with a "dignified life," though she clarified she is not seeking amnesty.

President Donald Trump responded by attacking Salazar, claiming she has become "soft on the border" and asserting that she would not have been elected without his support. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security further rejected Salazar's plea for moderation, stating there will be "no amnesty" for undocumented immigrants regardless of her position.

Salazar, who represents Florida's 27th Congressional District, is facing a competitive re-election challenge from Democrat Eliott Rodriguez. Rodriguez and his strategist, Fernand R. Amandi, dismissed the ad as a political stunt, noting that Salazar previously supported the funding used for the current crackdown. The dispute occurs amid record-breaking ICE arrests and reports of human rights abuses at the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility in Florida, while Democratic members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus claim the mass deportations are causing severe labor shortages and driving up consumer prices.