Rep. Maria Salazar (R-Fla.) is bringing a relatively nuanced perspective to the House Republican Conference when it comes to immigration, something that’s increasingly rare in GOP circles these days.
The Florida Republican, who represents a roughly 80% Hispanic district in South Florida, is advocating for due process and what she says is “dignity” for undocumented immigrants at risk of deportation under President Donald Trump.
“People are scared,” Salazar told us. “It’s just not the right thing to do, the Christian thing to do or the intelligent thing to do to be deporting people who do not have a criminal record and who have been here for more than five years.”
Trump made mass deportations of undocumented immigrants a key promise on the campaign trail.
While many Republicans have shied away from touching the issue of deportations, Salazar has been taking the lead on the complex topic.
Salazar has been working with Democrats on bipartisan bills, including the American Dream and Promise Act with Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) that would offer permanent legal status to Dreamers and undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children.
In fact, Garcia told us she reached out to multiple Republican offices for co-sponsorship, but Salazar was the only one who signed on. The bill has more than 200 Democratic co-sponsors.
Last Congress, Salazar also led the Dignity Act with Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas). That measure sought to implement tough border security measures while also providing a pathway to citizenship or legal status for undocumented residents. Salazar is planning to soon introduce a new version of the legislation.
Salazar also previously wrote to the Homeland Security Department expressing concerns about how deportation enforcement guidance impacts Miami residents. DHS officials haven’t responded yet to Salazar’s request.
For the record: Salazar condemned the Biden administration’s approach to the border, calling it “egregiously irresponsible.” The Florida Republican said she’s on board with all Trump’s efforts to enhance border security measures.
But Salazar also said she believes there needs to be caution used when it comes to mass deportations and who is being targeted for removal.
“Those who have been here for many years with no criminal record, those are the ones I am out to defend,” Salazar said. “They came in illegally, true, but someone gave them a job and profited from their labor.”
Opportunity knocks: Outside of members in vulnerable districts, bipartisan interest in immigration and border security has largely waned in a highly polarized Congress.
And so far, Salazar has only improved her electoral victories. The former Telemundo television reporter won 51% of the vote in 2020 in a district that went double digits for Hillary Clinton in 2016. In 2024, Salazar outperformed Trump by seven points and won by 22 points total.
Escobar said she appreciated Salazar’s pragmatic approach to the issue of immigration in working with her.
“I came to understand just how committed she is to solving this issue and doing it in a way that recognizes the political realities that we’re in, but also doesn’t sacrifice the overarching goal of finding a solution,” Escobar said of Salazar.
Salazar said she wants to push Republicans to take the lead on immigration while they have control of the House, Senate and White House, arguing that there’s been a failure among both parties to tackle the issue.
Salazar cited the major swing of Hispanic voters towards Trump as motivation to be effective on immigration reform. Miami-Dade County, in particular, voted in a major red wave, handing Trump 55% of the vote over Kamala Harris.
“The GOP can be a leader when it comes to immigration and that’s what I’m trying to do,” Salazar said. “Ronald Reagan said that Hispanics are Republicans. They just do not know it. Now, we’re going to tell them so they can realize it. We are in power and it’s our duty right now to do the right thing.”
