The Newshound

'Gone too far': Trump-backed Florida Republican María Elvira Salazar breaks with president over Hispanic deportation betrayal

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

Maria Elvira Salazar, filmed outside the White House, cited ICE data showing half of 50,000 people detained in July had no criminal record.
Maria Elvira Salazar, filmed outside the White House, cited ICE data showing half of 50,000 people detained in July had no criminal record.

Republican congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, whom Trump personally endorsed for re-election, has released a campaign ad directly accusing the president of going too far on immigration enforcement and betraying the Hispanic voters who put him in the White House. Salazar, who represents a majority-Hispanic South Florida district, warned in the 30-second spot that 50% of the 50,000 people detained by ICE in July had no criminal record. The House Freedom Caucus fired back immediately, insisting every illegal entrant has committed a crime and rejecting any path to legal status as amnesty. Salazar faces Democrat Eliott Rodriguez in November, with forecasters having already shifted the seat from solid to likely Republican.

Trump endorsed Salazar in February on Truth Social, writing she had his 'complete and total endorsement' and 'will never let you down.'

Salazar called on Trump to 'be for immigration what Lincoln was for slavery and Reagan was for communism' — offering dignity, not amnesty.

A Fox News poll found Trump's overall approval at 39%, with 61% of registered voters disapproving of his performance.

MoreThe IndependentFlorida Republican hammers Trump over deportations in scathing election adFox NewsHouse GOP lawmaker under fire by fellow Republicans after ad bashing Trump on immigrationFox News'Gone too far:' GOP candidate runs to Trump’s left on signature issue in deep red districtBNO NewsFlorida GOP Rep. Salazar tells Trump immigration enforcement has ‘gone too far’ - BNO NewsWPLG Local 10Maria Salazar releases new ad pushing back on Trump policies - WPLG Local 10local10.comMaria Salazar pushes back on Trump administration immigration practices - local10.comReal Clear PoliticsGOP Rep. Salazar To Trump: Some Of Your Enforcement Efforts "Have Gone Too Far" - Real Clear PoliticsTime MagazineTrump-Backed Republican Congresswoman Says the President’s Immigration Crackdown Has Gone ‘Too Far’ - Time MagazineNY PostTrump-backed GOP rep breaks with president on immigration enforcement: ‘Gone too far’
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