Republican breaks with Trump over immigration crackdown ahead of US midterms - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Republican congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar has criticised Donald Trump over his immigration crackdown, telling him enforcement measures "have gone too far". 

The Latina is facing competitive re-election in Florida in the US mid-terms later this year. 

She told the US president in a video message posted on social media that the Hispanics who elected him in 2024 "feel betrayed today". 

A Latina Republican lawmaker facing a competitive re-election race in Florida warned US President Donald Trump that his signature immigration enforcement agenda has overreached.

"Mr President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far," US Representative Maria Elvira Salazar said in a new ad.

The 30-second ad, recorded in front of the White House in English and Spanish, suggests that one of the issues that helped return Mr Trump to the White House may be working against his party.

It comes as the Trump administration tries to retain control of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections.

The calls follow months of fallout from Mr Trump's immigration crackdown. (Reuters: Evelyn Hockstein/File )

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ms Salazar, who represents the heavily Latino district in the heart of Miami, faces a challenge from Democrat Eliott Rodriguez, a former television news anchor.

Nonpartisan analysts rate the race as "likely Republican," meaning it is somewhat competitive, though Democrats view the seat as one of their better pick-up opportunities.

Ms Salazar's appeal follows months of fallout from Mr Trump's immigration crackdown, which initially featured large-scale street-level enforcement operations in which federal agents killed two US citizens in Minneapolis earlier this year.

After public backlash, the administration scaled back some highly visible operations, though deportations have remained high.

A September Reuters and Ipsos poll found 39 per cent of Americans approved of Mr Trump's handling of immigration, down from 50 per cent shortly after he returned to office in January 2025.

The President's overall approval rating stood at 35 per cent in a September Reuters-Ipsos poll, near the lowest level of his presidency.

Mr Trump is asking voters to treat the midterms as a referendum on his presidency, sparking unease from some Republicans.

Ms Salazar's ad, released on Thursday, does not blame Mr Trump directly and includes an earnest warning.

The message reflects a broader sentiment among Latino voters, especially those who backed Trump in 2024, who have grown increasingly frustrated with the administration's immigration policies.

Other Republicans in competitive races have also taken steps to distance themselves from the president.

Earlier this week, two Iowa Republicans facing tough re-election campaigns, Representatives Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, joined Democrats in voting to limit Mr Trump's war powers in Iran.