A Republican representative from Florida is running a television ad calling out President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, telling him that some policies have gone too far. Maria Elvira Salazar, who represents Florida's 27th Congressional District covering a large part of south Miami, has advocated for immigration reform alongside some Democratic colleagues in the House. While Trump and the wider GOP have advocated for tough immigration policies, some Republican lawmakers covering areas with large immigrant populations have found themselves in a difficult position.
In the video ad, which appeared to have been shot outside the White House, Salazar warned Trump to "be careful" over what his advisers were telling him, adding: "The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today." Newsweek reached out to Salazar's office and the White House for comment on Thursday morning. In the ad, Salazar, who is campaigning for reelection in the November 3 midterms, directly spoke to Trump about his immigration policies. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far," she said.
"In July, 50 percent of the 50,000 people that were detained had no criminal record. Be careful what your advisers are telling you about immigration policy. "You can be for immigration what Lincoln was for slavery and Reagan was for communism.
I'm not talking about giving them amnesty. I'm talking about giving them a dignified life in this promised land." The congresswoman's message marks one of the most significant breakaways by a Republican over the Trump administration's immigration policy, with the majority of the GOP lawmakers in Congress either showing overall support or remaining neutral on the topic. The comments also tap into Trump's overall positive viewpoints on the two former presidents, as well as his longtime desire to be seen as a consequential president—something his staffers and Cabinet members have also sought to portray him as.
The Florida representative, who was born to Cuban immigrants, has been one of the key voices on immigration reform during the current Congress, co-sponsoring the Dignity Act, which would grant new legal pathways to those in the U.S. without legal status. Speaking to Newsweek in July 2025, Salazar said the GOP, with its majority in both chambers, had a "historic opportunity to fix the immigration system." Congress has failed to pass widespread immigration reform for nearly 40 years, with the last changes being modifications to the 1950s Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) in the early 1990s. Under President Joe Biden, efforts were made for bipartisan reforms, but the measures ultimately failed when Republicans refused to provide widespread support.
Salazar introduced the bill along with Texas Democrat Veronica Escobar, another member of the Hispanic Caucus, as Latino voters began voicing concerns over how the second Trump administration was tackling immigration. Under the bipartisan proposal, undocumented migrants could apply for temporary legal status through the "Dignity Program," provided they meet specific conditions. These include passing background checks, paying restitution and taxes, and maintaining employment.
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