Salazar consistently supports strong border security, advocating for increased spending on border technology and personnel, and previously backing Trump's border priorities---though she stopped short of explicitly endorsing a border wall (Miami Herald, 10/23/18; El Nuevo Herald, 10/22/18).
She opposed Republican proposals to severely restrict asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border, warning such measures undermine traditional U.S. protections for people fleeing persecution---a stance praised by multiple editorial boards (Miami Herald, 2/1/23; El Nuevo Herald, 2/3/23).
Salazar calls for robust enforcement against criminals and employers who violate immigration laws, proposing national E-Verify mandates for employers and expressing support for deporting gang members, but insists on protecting law-abiding undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers from deportation (Miami Herald, 2/8/22; Miami Herald, 1/31/25).
She actively defends special protections and due process for Cuban, Venezuelan, Nicaraguan, and Haitian migrants---especially those arriving under parole or TPS programs---and frequently intervenes with federal agencies to prevent their deportation (Miami Herald, 1/24/25; Islander News, 1/30/25).
Salazar has publicly criticized both Biden and Trump immigration policies at times---blaming Biden for border chaos and child trafficking, and expressing concerns about Trump's mass deportation rhetoric and its potential impacts in Miami-Dade, especially for non-criminal migrants and families (Miami Herald, 10/24/22; Tampa Bay Times, 7/17/24).
Potential vulnerability: Salazar has occasionally made controversial remarks--including an inflammatory comment about violent gang members and earlier positions supporting deportation for some long-term undocumented residents---that have drawn criticism and required clarification (Miami Herald, 10/11/24; Miami Herald, 4/15/25).
2023: Salazar Represented A District With High UAC Placement According to The Center Square, "Of Florida's 29 counties housing UAC's, including in their districts, Miami-Dade County received the most in fiscal 2023 of nearly 2,000," and Maria Salazar is listed among representatives of these districts. [Center Square, 11/16/23]
Salazar Advocated For Parole For Recently Arrived Cuban Immigrants According to Miami Herald, "She has also advocated that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas give parole to hundreds of thousands of recently arrived Cuban immigrants who cannot get green cards under the Cuban Adjustment Act because a court decision made them ineligible due to do so because of the kind of paperwork they received at the border." [Miami Herald, 10/11/24]
January 2021: Salazar Advocated For TPS For Venezuelans In U.S. According to El Nuevo Herald, "los representantes piden a los senadores que presionen a los nominados para que públicamente le garanticen el Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS) a los venezolanos que en la actualidad viven en Estados Unidos." [El Nuevo Herald (Miami, Florida), 1/16/21]
January 2021: Salazar Supported Trump's Decision To Grant DED For Venezuelans According to Miami Herald, "All three Florida Republicans, along with Miami Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar and Carlos Gimenez, were enthusiastic supporters of Trump's last minute decision to grant Deferred Enforced Departure for Venezuelans living in the United States just hours before his term ended." [Miami Herald, 1/20/21]
2023: Miami Herald Editorial Board Credited María Salazar for Opposing Republican Border Security Bill According to an editorial published in Miami Herald, "we credit the outspoken pushback of some Republicans, including Salazar, whose district, which includes Virginia Key and Key Biscayne, for decades has been an entry point for those escaping for a better life in America." [Editorial - Miami Herald, 2/1/23]
2023: María Salazar Quoted Opposing HR 29's Restrictions on Refugees and Asylum Seekers According to an editorial published in El Nuevo Herald, Salazar was quoted as saying, "¿Somos estúpidos? Vamos. Este país se basó en mentes brillantes. Miren a Albert Einstein, le dimos un trozo de papel para que entrara... Estamos dejando escapar al Albert Einstein de esta época moderna." [Editorial - El Nuevo Herald, 2/3/23]
2023: Salazar Se Pronunció Contra Deportaciones De Cubanos Por Filtración De Información According to El Nuevo Herald, 'Representante de EE.UU. Salazar se pronuncia contra deportaciones de cubanos cuya información fue filtrada'. [El Nuevo Herald, 5/23/23]
Salazar Calificó Como Error Ejecutivo La Situación Migratoria De Cubanos Con I-220A According to El Nuevo Herald, "'Cientos de miles de cubanos están viviendo en las sombras debido a un gran fracaso de la rama ejecutiva del Gobierno', dijo Salazar. 'Me uno a mis colegas demócratas para instar al Secretario Mayorkas a corregir este error y permitir que los cubanos que escapan del régimen de Castro/Díaz-Canel reciban el 'parole' para que puedan solicitar la Residencia y encontrar seguridad en la Tierra Prometida'." [El Nuevo Herald, 1/21/24]
Septiembre 2023: Oficina De Salazar Explicó Anuncio De La Junta De Apelaciones De Inmigración Sobre I-220A According to El Nuevo Herald, "La oficina de Salazar explicó que en septiembre de 2023, la Junta de Apelaciones de Inmigración de la Administración Biden anunció que cubanos liberados en Estados Unidos por agentes fronterizos con una 'orden de liberación bajo reconocimiento' o I-220A en la frontera sur, no son elegibles para solicitar la residencia permanente o permisos de trabajo bajo la Ley de Ajuste Cubano." [El Nuevo Herald, 1/21/24]
Salazar Advirtió Que Decisión Pone En Riesgo De Deportación A Cubanos Con I-220A According to El Nuevo Herald, "Esta decisión pone en riesgo el estatus de cientos de miles de cubanos que fueron liberados en Estados Unidos con ese formulario, especialmente de ser deportados a Cuba, enfatizó." [El Nuevo Herald, 1/21/24]
January 2025: U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar Told Miami Herald Certain Migrants Should Be Protected From Deportation According to Miami Herald, "Venezuelans and Nicaraguans who have no criminal record and have applied for asylum through the proper and legal channels should also be protected until their cases are fully resolved. They were enrolled under programs offered to them and they should have the ability to see their applications out to rectify their legal status,' said U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar of Miami told the Miami Herald." [Miami Herald, 1/24/25]
January 2025: Salazar Urged DHS To Protect Cubans Eligible For Cuban Adjustment Act From Deportation According to Miami Herald, "In a letter Friday, Salazar urged Acting Secretary Huffman to ensure that all Cubans paroled in under the Biden-era program 'eligible for or with pending applications for the Cuban Adjustment Act are protected from deportation until their cases are fully resolved.'" [Miami Herald, 1/24/25]
January 2025: Salazar Requested Protections For Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, And Haitians With No Criminal Record Who Applied For Asylum According to Miami Herald, "Salazar also asked Huffman to protect Venezuelans, Nicaraguans and Haitians who arrived through the parole program, have no criminal record and applied for asylum." [Miami Herald, 1/24/25]
January 2025: María Elvira Salazar Urged Protection For Cuban, Venezuelan, Nicaraguan, And Haitian Migrants Eligible Under Parole Programs According to El Nuevo Herald, "La representante federal María Elvira Salazar de Miami al Miami Herald. Los cubanos que ingresaron a través del programa de parole creado por Biden pero que aún no han cumplido con el requisito de estadía de un año para solicitar una tarjeta verde bajo la Ley de Ajuste Cubano 'deberían tener la oportunidad' de hacerlo, dijo Salazar. [...] Salazar también pidió a Huffman proteger a los venezolanos, nicaragüenses y haitianos que llegaron a través del programa de parole, no tienen antecedentes penales y han solicitado asilo." [El Nuevo Herald (Miami, Florida), 1/24/25]
January 2025: María Elvira Salazar Sent Letter To Secretary Huffman Advocating Protections For Cuban Parolees Pending Adjustment According to El Nuevo Herald, "En una carta el viernes, Salazar instó al secretario interino Huffman a garantizar que todos los cubanos en libertad condicional bajo el programa de la era Biden 'elegibles o con solicitudes pendientes para la Ley de Ajuste Cubano estén protegidos de la deportación hasta que sus casos se resuelvan por completo'." [El Nuevo Herald (Miami, Florida), 1/24/25]
January 2025: Salazar Urged Trump Administration To Spare Deportation For Certain Migrants Without Criminal Records According to Islander News, "U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Republican from Miami, is urging newly re-elected President Donald Trump and the Department of Homeland Security to spare deportation for migrants without criminal records and pending deportation cases for Cubans, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans and Haitians." [Islander News, 1/30/25]
January 2025: Salazar Expressed Concerns Over Miami Deportation Impacts From Trump Policies According to Islander News, "Salazar said Trump's deportation operation could have a huge impact in Miami-Dade, which is home to the large populations of Cubans, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans and Haitians." [Islander News, 1/30/25]
January 2025: Salazar Urged Protection For CHNV Parolees Until Legal Status Cases Resolved According to Islander News, Salazar wrote, "Individuals must be afforded due process. I strongly urge you to ensure that all Cubans paroled under the CHNV program eligible for or with pending applications for the Cuban Adjustment Act are protected from deportation until their cases are fully resolved. Additionally, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, and Haitians who arrived under the CHNV program, have no criminal record, and have applied for asylum through the proper legal channels, should also be protected until their cases are fully resolved." [Islander News, 1/30/25]
January 2025: Rep. María Elvira Salazar Requested Deportation Protection For Certain Migrants According to Islander News, "U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Republican from Miami, is urging newly re-elected President Donald Trump and the Department of Homeland Security to spare deportation for migrants without criminal records and pending deportation cases for Cubans, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans and Haitians." [Islander News, 1/30/25]
January 2025: Salazar Warned Of Impact Of Deportation Operations On Miami-Dade Immigrant Populations According to Islander News, "Salazar said Trump's deportation operation could have a huge impact in Miami-Dade, which is home to the large populations of Cubans, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans and Haitians." [Islander News, 1/30/25]
January 2025: Salazar Appealed For Due Process And Protection For CHNV Program Immigrants According to Islander News, "I strongly urge you to ensure that all Cubans paroled under the CHNV program eligible for or with pending applications for the Cuban Adjustment Act are protected from deportation until their cases are fully resolved. Additionally, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, and Haitians who arrived under the CHNV program, have no criminal record, and have applied for asylum through the proper legal channels, should also be protected until their cases are fully resolved." [Islander News, 1/30/25]
Late January 2025: Salazar Previously Urged Against Deporting Parolees From Humanitarian Programs According to Miami New Times, "Miami Congresswoman Mar ía Elvira Salazar, who just last week wrote a letter urging the Trump administration not to deport Cuban, Nicaraguan, Venezuelan, and Haitian migrants who were allowed to enter the country under a humanitarian parole program, was enthused with the Guantánamo Bay plans." [Miami New Times, 1/30/25]
January 2025: Salazar Pledged To Protect Venezuelans Fleeing Persecution According to Miami Herald, "In response to the revocation of the Biden administration's extension of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans, Miami Reps. María Elvira Salazar, Mario Díaz-Balart, and Carlos Giménez released a statement on Wednesday committing to protect people fleeing persecution in Venezuela. They also defended Trump's crackdown on undocumented immigration in the name of public safety -- writing that 'some individuals have exploited our generosity.'" [Miami Herald, 1/31/25]
January 2025: Salazar Expressed Conditional Support For TPS Until Maduro Was Removed According to Miami Herald, "Salazar sent the Herald a statement through her office. 'We support TPS until Maduro is out,' she said. 'Everyone's existing asylum cases should be respected.'" [Miami Herald, 1/31/25]
María Elvira Salazar Sostuvo Que Las Deportaciones Podrían Afectar Mucho A Miami-Dade En 2025 According to The Islander News, "Salazar dijo que la operación de deportación de Trump podría tener un gran impacto en Miami-Dade, que alberga a las grandes poblaciones de cubanos, venezolanos, nicaragüenses y haitianos." [Islander News, 1/31/25]
March 2025: U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar Confirmed Awareness Of ICE Detentions Of Cubans With I-220As According to Miami Herald, "U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar of Miami, who has positioned herself as a champion for Cubans with I-220As, confirmed on X that she was aware of the recent detentions at ICE's office in Miramar." [Miami Herald, 3/21/25]
March 2025: Salazar Claimed She Spoke With ICE And Homeland Security To Request End To Detentions Of Cubans With I-220As According to Miami Herald, 'I recently spoke with ICE and Homeland Security officials and asked them to not detain Cubans with I-220A and allow for their asylum cases to be heard,' Salazar said in a statement posted in Spanish. [Miami Herald, 3/21/25]
Salazar Stated She Sought Solutions For Cubans With I-220As Under The Biden Administration According to Miami Herald, 'As you all know well, during the Biden administration I sought a solution for Cubans with I-220A, and I will not stop until it's no longer necessary.' [Miami Herald, 3/21/25]
March 2025: María Elvira Salazar Confirmed Her Advocacy for Cubans With I-220A According to El Nuevo Herald, "La representante estadounidense María Elvira Salazar, de Miami, quien se ha posicionado como defensora de los cubanos con formularios I-220A, confirmó en X que estaba al tanto de las recientes detenciones en la oficina de ICE en Miramar." [El Nuevo Herald, 3/21/25]
March 2025: Salazar Communicated With ICE and Homeland Security Regarding Cuban Detainees According to El Nuevo Herald, "Recientemente hablé con funcionarios de ICE y Seguridad Nacional y les pedí que no detuvieran a los cubanos con I-220A y que permitieran que se atendieran sus casos de asilo", declaró Salazar en un comunicado publicado en español." [El Nuevo Herald, 3/21/25]
2025: Letter Writer Brock Sevilla Criticized María Elvira Salazar's Remarks on Deportations According to a letter to the editor published in Miami Herald, "Last year, she declared that 'Those who just came in and belong to El Tren de Aragua, we should kill them,' before walking back the remark. This extremist rhetoric dehumanizes and endangers all Latin American people, fans hatred and encourages vigilantism." [Letter to the Editor - Miami Herald, 4/15/25]
2025: Salazar Claimed Personal Advocacy For Detained Cuban Migrants According to Miami Herald, "In interviews with Hispanic media, Salazar has said she had personally reached out to leaders of the Department of Homeland Security to intervene on behalf of some detained Cuban migrants and 'educate' officials on the need to protect Cubans, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans and Haitians fleeing from dictatorships and political turmoil." [Miami Herald, 4/16/25]
Early 2025: Salazar Stated Cubans Cannot Be Returned And Urged Protection Of Status According to Miami Herald, 'Cubans cannot be returned,' she said in an interview with local television station América TV. 'What we need to get rid of is the Cuban regime... The temporary status protections should also be respected.' [Miami Herald, 4/16/25]
Salazar Intervened With DHS Leaders On Behalf Of Detained Cuban Migrants According to El Nuevo Herald, "En entrevistas con medios hispanos, Salazar ha declarado que se comunicó personalmente con los líderes del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) para intervenir en nombre de algunos migrantes cubanos detenidos y 'educar' a los funcionarios del DHS sobre la necesidad de proteger de la deportación a cubanos, nicaragüenses, venezolanos y haitianos que huyen de dictaduras y la agitación política." [El Nuevo Herald (Miami, Florida), 4/16/25]
Salazar Stated On America TV That Cuban Migrants Should Not Be Deported According to El Nuevo Herald, 'Los cubanos no se pueden devolver', dijo en una entrevista con la cadena de televisión local América TV. 'Lo que hay que sacar es al régimen... El TPS también debe respetarse'. [El Nuevo Herald (Miami, Florida), 4/16/25]
2025: Miami Herald Editorial Board Reported María Salazar Supported TPS for Venezuelans According to an editorial published in Miami Herald, "As the Herald reported in January, Salazar, Diaz-Balart and Gimenez have said they support TPS for Venezuelans in some manner." [Editorial - Miami Herald, 4/17/25]
Salazar Criticized Certain Trump Immigration Policies In 2018 According to Miami Herald, "She has spoken out against his 'zero-tolerance' immigration policy that resulted in more than 2,000 immigrant kids being split up from their parents by the U.S. government at the southern border. 'I do not like what [Trump] has done with immigration,' she said. 'There are some aspects of the immigration policy established by the White House that need to be rectified and changed now.'" [Miami Herald, 10/5/18]
March 2021: Salazar Made Remarks Addressing Hispanic Americans On Migration Risks According to Miami Herald, "Gimenez and Salazar also made remarks in Spanish that were directed at Hispanic Americans, with a particular focus on the treacherous journey of most migrants from Central America to the United States." [Miami Herald, 3/15/21]
March 2021: Salazar Condemned Border Conditions And Cited Sexual Violence Against Migrant Girls According to Miami Herald, 'We cannot allow what's happening at the border, our girls in Honduras and Nicaragua are the ones being raped,' Salazar said. 'Child sex trafficking is one of the highest crimes in this country. I ask my community, Hispanic Americans, to send a message to your representatives that we cannot have this at the border.' [Miami Herald, 3/15/21]
2023: María Salazar Opposed HR 29 Citing Threats to Asylum Laws According to an editorial published in Miami Herald, "A proposed Republican 'border security' plan, now stalled in the U.S. House, is so extreme that even some members of the party, namely Miami-Dade's Maria Elvira Salazar, have denounced it, saying it jeopardized U.S. asylum laws and the very idea of this nation opening its arms to those fleeing their homelands for humanitarian reasons." [Editorial - Miami Herald, 2/1/23]
2023: Miami Herald Editorial Board Endorsed Salazar's Stance on Asylum Laws According to an editorial published in Miami Herald, "We agree with Salazar that this bill goes too far. She and fellow Republican congressman Tony Gonzales, of Texas, say the bill undermines asylum laws. Commend both of them for standing up to their Republican colleagues in the name of the oppressed." [Editorial - Miami Herald, 2/1/23]
2023: Miami Herald Editorial Board Noted No Official Salazar Statement on HR 29 to Editorial Board According to an editorial published in Miami Herald, "Salazar's office did not issue a comment about her opposition to HR 29 when the Editorial Board reached out, however, she was quoted in The Washington Post as debate went back and forth in the House last month." [Editorial - Miami Herald, 2/1/23]
2023: El Nuevo Herald Editorial Board Noted María Salazar Opposed Republican Border Security Bill According to an editorial published in El Nuevo Herald, "Una propuesta del plan republicano de 'seguridad fronteriza', ahora estancada en la Cámara de Representantes de Estados Unidos, es tan extrema que incluso algunos miembros del partido, en concreto María Elvira Salazar de Miami-Dade, la denunciaron, diciendo que ponía en peligro las leyes de asilo de Estados Unidos y la idea misma de que esta nación abra sus brazos por razones humanitarias a quienes huyen de sus países de origen." [Editorial - El Nuevo Herald, 2/3/23]
2023: El Nuevo Herald Editorial Board Credited Salazar for Helping Stall HR 29 Border Bill According to an editorial published in El Nuevo Herald, "El mérito es de algunos republicanos, entre ellos Salazar, cuyo distrito, que incluye Virginia Key y Key Biscayne, ha sido durante décadas un punto de entrada para quienes huían en busca de una vida mejor en Estados Unidos." [Editorial - El Nuevo Herald, 2/3/23]
2023: El Nuevo Herald Editorial Board Praised Salazar for Opposing HR 29 According to an editorial published in El Nuevo Herald, "Ella sabe lo que significa una restricción de este tipo, y la felicitamos por hablar en contra de este proyecto de ley cuando los otros legisladores republicanos del sur de la Florida, al parecer, no lo hicieron." [Editorial - El Nuevo Herald, 2/3/23]
2023: El Nuevo Herald Editorial Board Supported Salazar's Assertion That HR 29 Was Too Harsh According to an editorial published in El Nuevo Herald, "Estamos de acuerdo con Salazar en que este proyecto de ley va demasiado lejos. Tanto ella como su colega republicano Tony Gonzales, de Texas, afirman que el proyecto socava las leyes de asilo." [Editorial - El Nuevo Herald, 2/3/23]
2023: El Nuevo Herald Editorial Board Commended Salazar for Standing Up to GOP Colleagues According to an editorial published in El Nuevo Herald, "Felicitamos a ambos por enfrentarse a sus colegas republicanos en nombre de los oprimidos." [Editorial - El Nuevo Herald, 2/3/23]
María Elvira Salazar Se Opuso En 2023 A Propuesta De La Cámara De EE.UU. Que Restringiría El Asilo En La Frontera According to La Prensa, 'Salazar es uno de los pocos republicanos que se oponen a una amplia propuesta que se está estudiando en la Cámara de Representantes y que restringiría el asilo en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México.' [La Prensa (Tampa, Orlando, Florida), 3/3/23]
May 2023: Salazar Advocated Ending 'Catch And Release' With Humanitarian Campuses According to Miami Herald, "The bill would also modify the current asylum provisions by creating five 'humanitarian campuses' for those hoping to obtain the immigration status. The construction of those centers would put an end to the often criticized practice known as catch-and-release, she said, in which detained undocumented migrants are allowed to go free while waiting for a resolution of their cases." [Miami Herald, 5/23/23]
María Elvira Salazar Expresó Preocupación Por El Impacto De Redadas Masivas En Su Distrito En 2025 According to The Islander News, "Salazar, cuyo distrito incluye Key Biscayne, teme que la operación de deportación masiva de Trump por parte del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) persiga a inmigrantes que solicitaron asilo a través de los canales legales adecuados." [Islander News, 1/31/25]
2023: María Salazar Quoted Criticizing Restrictive Asylum Policy According to an editorial published in Miami Herald, "she was quoted in The Washington Post as debate went back and forth in the House last month: 'Are we stupid? Come on. This country was based on good minds. Look at Albert Einstein, we gave him a piece of paper to come in,' Salazar said. 'We are letting the Albert Einstein of this modern time slip away.'" [Editorial - Miami Herald, 2/1/23]
2023: María Salazar Se Opuso A Propuesta Para Restringir Asilo En La Frontera De EE.UU.-México According to La Prensa, "Salazar es uno de los pocos republicanos que se oponen a una amplia propuesta que se está estudiando en la Cámara de Representantes y que restringiría el asilo en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México." [La Prensa (Tampa, Orlando, Florida), 2/28/23]
2023: Maria Elvira Salazar Opposed Sweeping GOP Proposal To Restrict Asylum At US-Mexico Border According to Orlando Sentinel, "Salazar is among a handful of Republicans pushing back against a sweeping proposal being considered in the House that would restrict asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border." [Orlando Sentinel (Florida), 3/1/23]
2023: Salazar Opposed Sweeping House Proposal To Restrict Asylum At U.S.-Mexico Border According to Florida Times-Union, "Salazar is among a handful of Republicans pushing back against a sweeping proposal being considered in the House that would restrict asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border." [Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville), 3/2/23]
Salazar Called For Deporting Gang Members, Office Later Clarified Statement According to Miami Herald, "In July, during a panel discussion at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Salazar stirred controversy when she said that the U.S. should 'kill' some members of the Venezuelan gang El Tren de Aragua who illegally enter the country. Her office later walked back those remarks, saying that she believes gang members should be deported." [Miami Herald, 10/11/24]
2018: María Elvira Salazar Se Mostró Cauta Sobre La Inmigración Y Apoyó La Seguridad Fronteriza According to El Nuevo Herald, "Salazar, por su parte, se mostró algo más cauta sobre el tema de la inmigración, reiterando la línea republicana sobre la necesidad de resguardar la frontera. Pero se mostró opuesta al planteamiento de expulsar del país a todos los inmigrantes indocumentados." [El Nuevo Herald, 10/4/18]
2018: María Elvira Salazar Declaró Que Quienes Llevan Menos De 14 Años Indocumentados Deben Ser Deportados According to El Nuevo Herald, "Aquellos que tienen menos de 14 años en Estados Unidos deberían ser enviados a sus países de origen, incluyendo aquellos que huyeron de la violencia de América Central y las familias con niños que fueron separados de sus hijos, opinó." [El Nuevo Herald, 10/4/18]
October 2018: Salazar Backed Trump's Efforts To Restrict Immigration But Avoided Using The Term 'Wall' According to El Nuevo Herald, "Ella no quiere llamarla 'una pared', pero apoya los esfuerzos de Trump para cerrar la puerta a la inmigración." [El Nuevo Herald, 10/22/18]
2018: Salazar Did Not Explicitly Endorse Trump's Border Wall But Supported Border Security Spending According to Miami Herald, "Salazar has previously said that she would vote to spend money on Trump's border priorities if elected to Congress, but stopped short of explicitly endorsing the wall. [...] In an interview last month on MSNBC, Salazar said she would 'definitely vote in order to secure the border' and said she would support 'any type of tower, any type of technology, any type of guards for border security that will secure the border because we do not want [imprisoned Mexican drug lord] El Chapo or his friends smuggling drugs.'" [Miami Herald, 10/23/18]
March 2021: Salazar Visited U.S.-Mexico Border With GOP Lawmakers To Criticize Biden's Immigration Policy According to Miami Herald, "Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar and Carlos Gimenez joined House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California for a tour with United States Border Patrol and a view of the wall at the U.S.-Mexico border." [Miami Herald, 3/15/21]
2021: Tim Padgett Reported María Elvira Salazar Blamed Biden Policy for Border Child Sex Trafficking According to an opinion piece by Tim Padgett in South Florida Sun-Sentinel, "Salazar even suggested Biden policy bore some blame for increased child sex trafficking along the border." [Tim Padgett - South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 3/19/21]
2021: Tim Padgett Reported María Elvira Salazar Traveled to U.S.-Mexico Border to Criticize Biden's Immigration Policy According to an opinion piece by Tim Padgett in South Florida Sun-Sentinel, "two of Miami's GOP Cuban-American Congresspersons, Carlos Gimenez and Maria Elvira Salazar, traveled far away from Florida this week to spend some quality political distraction time on the U.S. border with Mexico. There, near El Paso, Texas, they joined the Republican chorus accusing Biden of miring the U.S. in migrant chaos as thousands of unaccompanied minors from Mexico and Central America strain the government's ability to receive them." [Tim Padgett - South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 3/19/21]
February 2022: Salazar Indicó Que La Ley Impondría Sanciones A Contrabandistas Y Empleadores De Ilegales According to La Prensa, "La nueva ley también impondría castigos a los contrabandistas, y a los empleadores de trabajadores ilegales." [La Prensa (Tampa, Orlando, Florida), 2/9/22]
María Elvira Salazar Criticized Biden Administration's Border Policy In 2022 According to Miami Herald, "Salazar told reporters afterwards. 'Us' meaning the Hispanics because we do not want illegals. We don't want fentanyl. We don't want child-sex traffickers. We don't want coyotes.'" [Miami Herald, 10/24/22]
October 2022: Salazar Criticized Biden Administration On Border Policy According to El Nuevo Herald, "Tenemos un problema muy grande ... la frontera, que es un área total de absoluta irresponsabilidad de la administración del presidente Joe Biden, nos está afectando tremendamente", dijo Salazar a los reporteros después. "'Nosotros' se refiere a los hispanos porque no queremos ilegales. No queremos fentanilo. No queremos traficantes de sexo infantil. No queremos coyotes". [El Nuevo Herald (Miami, Florida), 10/24/22]
May 2023: Salazar Highlighted Border Security Provisions In Her Bill According to Miami Herald, "Salazar added that dealing with the border is one of the bill's most important provisions and that the 1.5% deduction would be enough to set aside the billions needed." [Miami Herald, 5/23/23]
2022: Salazar Previously Introduced Similar Immigration Legislation According to NBC - 8 WFLA, "Presentó una versión ligeramente diferente de la ley en 2022, pidiendo la reanudación de la construcción del muro fronterizo y que el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional pueda enviar tropas de la Guardia Nacional a la frontera." [NBC - 8 WFLA: Web Edition Articles (Florida), 5/23/23]
October 2024: Salazar Commented On Mass Deportation Plans, Differentiated Criminals From Law-Abiding Undocumented Immigrants According to Miami Herald, "In October, when asked about Trump's plans for mass deportations, and her support for the president, she told the Herald that he would start with 'criminals.' 'We all know that you have millions and millions of illegals or undocumented who are very good people and who have done jobs that no one else wants to do in this country,' she said." [Miami Herald, 1/31/25]
María Elvira Salazar Instó A Trump Y Al DHS A Evitar Deportaciones De Inmigrantes Sin Antecedentes Penales En 2025 According to The Islander News, "La representante María Elvira Salazar, republicana de Miami, está instando al presidente Trump y al Departamento de Seguridad Nacional a que eviten la deportación de inmigrantes sin antecedentes penales y los casos de deportación pendientes de cubanos, venezolanos, nicaragüenses y haitianos." [Islander News, 1/31/25]
February 2022: Salazar Proposed Mandatory National E-Verify For All Employers According to Miami Herald, "Among the other policy reforms in Salazar's bill is the creation of a national E-verify system, which would require all employers regardless of size or industry to confirm through a Department of Homeland Security website that prospective employees can legally work in the country. It's a policy Salazar argued would curb illegal immigration by eliminating the hiring of undocumented workers." [Miami Herald, 2/8/22]
February 2022: Salazar Asserted E-Verify Would Create Parity For Businesses According to Miami Herald, '"We are creating a level playing field," Salazar said when asked if she expected pushback from the business community to the proposed requirement. She contended that the universal application of the E-verify system would create parity and predictability for businesses.' [Miami Herald, 2/8/22]
Salazar Proposed Nationwide Electronic Verification System For Employers According to El Nuevo Herald, "Entre las otras reformas de politica en el proyecto de ley de Salazar se encuentra la creacion de un sistema nacional de verificacion electronica, que requeriria que todos los empleadores, independientemente del tamano o la industria, confirmen a traves de un sitio web del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional que los posibles empleados pueden trabajar legalmente en el pais." [El Nuevo Herald (Miami, Florida), 2/8/22]
Salazar Asserted Electronic Verification Would Benefit Businesses Equally According to El Nuevo Herald, "Sostuvo que la aplicacion universal del sistema E-Verify crearia paridad y previsibilidad para las empresas. Las empresas podrian contratar legalmente a participantes en el Programa Dignidad." [El Nuevo Herald (Miami, Florida), 2/8/22]
July 2024: Salazar Expressed Doubts About Trump's Mass Deportation Rhetoric According to Tampa Bay Times, "At a Tuesday panel discussion, Salazar was asked what she thought of Trump's immigration policies, particularly on mass deportations. She expressed hope that it was just linguistic overkill. 'Let's see what happens,' Salazar said. 'I understand what you're telling me, but I do know that sometimes, that is rhetoric you say while you're campaigning (and) that may not happen.'" [Tampa Bay Times, 7/17/24]
January 2025: Salazar Expressed Support For Using Guantánamo Bay To Detain Violent Criminal Migrants According to Miami New Times, "Guantánamo Bay is a GREAT place for violent criminals...great idea! ????," Salazar chimed in. [Miami New Times, 1/30/25]