Representative Maria Elvira Salazar, a Cuban-American Republican fighting for re-election in a newly competitive Miami district, publicly urged President Trump on Thursday to roll back key elements of his immigration agenda, including mass workplace raids and visa-fee hikes. In a Reuters interview, Salazar warned that Latino swing voters “want security but not family separations,” arguing that the party risks alienating its fastest-growing constituency. Her remarks come as Reuters/Ipsos polling shows approval of Trump’s immigration handling plunging to 39 percent from 50 percent in January 2025. Business coalitions in South Florida echoed the congresswoman’s concerns, saying labour shortages in hospitality and agriculture are worsening as ICE ramps up enforcement and as visa-fee surcharges squeeze seasonal-worker programs. While the White House dismissed Salazar’s critique as “campaign rhetoric,” GOP strategists privately acknowledge that suburban districts with large immigrant populations could determine House control in 2028. For global-mobility managers, the political rift signals potential policy whiplash: companies should scenario-plan for both continued crackdowns and a possible post-election moderation that could revive stalled visa-modernisation bills. Salazar’s position also foreshadows intra-party negotiations over the 2027 budget, where she says she will oppose any provisions that slash refugee admissions or further hike employment-based visa fees. Multinationals relying on H-2B or J-1 talent streams would benefit if her faction gains leverage to soften enforcement-first appropriations.
Source: Reuters (via Internazionale)
