Florida Senator Ileana Garcia, a founding member of Latinas for Trump, is openly condemning former President Donald Trump’s latest immigration crackdown—calling it “unacceptable” and “inhumane.” Her remarks have sent shockwaves through the GOP, especially among Latino voters who once rallied behind Trump.
“This is not what we voted for,” Garcia said in a Saturday statement. “I have always supported Trump, through thick and thin. However, this is unacceptable and inhumane.”
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- 1 Rep. María Elvira Salazar Joins the Chorus
- 2 “I Still Have Faith” — Garcia Hopes Trump Will Listen
- 3 From Ally to Challenger: Garcia’s Evolution
Garcia represents Miami-Dade County, a heavily Latino district that was once solidly pro-Trump. But she’s making it clear: the new immigration measures are a step too far. While she still supports deporting criminals, she strongly opposes targeting people who are on lawful paths to U.S. citizenship.
“This undermines the sense of fairness and justice that the American people value,” she wrote in a public letter.
Media suggestion: Insert image of Ileana Garcia speaking at a Trump rally or Florida Senate event. Alt text: Latinas for Trump Co-Founder Calls Donald Trump’s Immigration Policies ‘Unacceptable’ and ‘Inhumane’.
Rep. María Elvira Salazar Joins the Chorus
Garcia isn’t standing alone. Rep. María Elvira Salazar, another Republican from Miami, also condemned recent arrests and deportations of immigrants with pending legal claims.
“I remain clear in my position: anyone with a pending asylum case, status-adjustment petition, or similar claim deserves to go through the legal process,” Salazar stated on Friday.
Her comments triggered a social media firestorm. Pro-Trump followers flooded her feed with backlash, some even threatening to oust her in the next primary. But Garcia came to her defense, reaffirming her support for law-abiding immigrants trying to build better lives.
Media suggestion: Insert screenshot or tweet from Salazar’s statement. Alt text: Rep. María Elvira Salazar Condemns Trump Immigration Policies.
“I Still Have Faith” — Garcia Hopes Trump Will Listen
Despite the criticism, Garcia isn’t completely abandoning Trump. In a follow-up post on Sunday, she expressed hope that he would reconsider the harsher policies.
“I have faith that President Trump will do what’s just for those seeking freedom and upward mobility,” she wrote.
Her position reflects a delicate balance — holding the former president accountable while still believing in his potential to make the right call.
From Ally to Challenger: Garcia’s Evolution
Senator Garcia co-founded Latinas for Trump in 2016 and helped rally thousands of Hispanic voters behind Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns. By the time she was elected to the Florida Senate in 2020, she had become one of his most loyal Latina allies.
But now, her break from Trump’s immigration stance signals more than just personal disapproval — it could be the early signs of a deeper rift within his Latino base. If other high-profile figures begin to follow suit, it may reshape the GOP landscape heading into 2026.
