3 Florida Cuban GOP Navigate Trump’s Immigration Policies Carefully/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Three Florida Republican lawmakers with Cuban heritage — Maria Elvira Salazar, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Carlos Gimenez — are delicately balancing loyalty to Trump with concerns over immigration policies. Trump’s push for stricter enforcement impacts communities central to their voter base. Democrats target the trio amid signs of political vulnerability.
Florida Cuban Republicans and Immigration Quick Looks
- Maria Elvira Salazar vocally supports immigration protections for Cubans and Venezuelans.
- Diaz-Balart defends Trump but seeks limited asylum reforms.
- Carlos Gimenez backs Trump’s policies while calling for tougher measures against Cuba.
- Democrats target Salazar’s Miami district as a possible House flip.
- Trump’s immigration offensive could alienate parts of Florida’s Latino electorate.
- A billboard campaign labels the Cuban-American lawmakers “traitors.”
- GOP lawmakers criticize Biden’s immigration handling while navigating local immigrant concerns.
- Florida remains a pivotal battleground with a rapidly shifting Latino vote.
3 Florida Cuban GOP Navigate Trump’s Immigration Policies Carefully
Deep Look
Florida’s Cuban-American Republicans Carefully Navigate Trump’s Hardline Immigration Policies
MIAMI — As President Donald Trump intensifies his crackdown on immigration, three Cuban-American Republicans from South Florida — Maria Elvira Salazar, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Carlos Gimenez — are walking a precarious political tightrope. Fierce loyalty to Trump must be balanced against the interests of immigrant communities that have long formed the backbone of their districts.
At a recent gathering with Republican women in Miami, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart spent over an hour outlining GOP strategies for retaining control of the U.S. House. Notably absent from his prepared remarks: any mention of immigration, a topic increasingly fraught for Florida Republicans.
The Political Landscape
Trump’s renewed focus on mass deportations and ending legal protections for certain migrants, including Cubans and Venezuelans, presents a delicate challenge for South Florida’s Cuban-American lawmakers. All three — Salazar, Diaz-Balart, and Gimenez — have defended Trump publicly while quietly advocating for exceptions for their constituents.
Meanwhile, Democrats see an opportunity. They have zeroed in on Salazar’s Miami district, launching a billboard campaign labeling the trio — along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio — as “traitors” for their alignment with Trump’s agenda.
Trump’s historic win in Miami-Dade County in 2024 signaled a Latino shift toward Republicans, but many political observers warn that overly harsh immigration policies could backfire, particularly in areas with large Cuban and Venezuelan populations.
Maria Elvira Salazar: Walking the Fine Line
Salazar, 63, has emerged as the most outspoken of the three on immigration, especially in defending Cuban and Venezuelan migrants. After a federal judge blocked Trump’s attempt to end protections for Venezuelans, Salazar praised Trump for “doing the right thing,” even though it was a judicial intervention.
She has publicly pressured the administration to maintain pathways for Cuban migrants under the Cuban Adjustment Act and shared personal success stories of helping immigrants avoid deportation.
In a Spanish-language video posted to X, Salazar passionately asserted, “We are the only ones in Congress who are helping you.” She framed herself as a champion for working-class immigrants who contribute to society, even as she continued to defend Trump’s broader immigration policies.
Recently, in a Miami Herald op-ed, Salazar pushed back against critics who accused her of political cowardice. “I don’t belong in any letter calling out inaction. I’ve been on the battlefield in Congress, willing to take the political risk and lead the charge,” she wrote.
Mario Diaz-Balart: Defending Trump, Seeking Adjustments
At 63, Diaz-Balart, a veteran of Florida politics, has largely defended Trump’s immigration stance while carefully signaling support for asylum seekers.
He and his colleagues issued a joint statement criticizing the revocation of deportation protections for Venezuelans, emphasizing the danger facing returnees.
However, Diaz-Balart often shifts blame to President Joe Biden, accusing him of creating a crisis at the border. While studies consistently show immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than native-born Americans, Diaz-Balart frequently points to criminal cases involving migrants to bolster calls for tighter screening.
Speaking to Republican women in Miami, he emphasized working with the Trump administration to craft a new “process” to screen asylum seekers — suggesting he is attempting to bridge Trump’s hardline position with the needs of Florida’s immigrant communities.
Carlos Gimenez: Hardline on Cuba, Pragmatic on Immigration
Gimenez, 71, a Cuban-born former mayor of Miami-Dade County, is a staunch Trump defender who has also expressed support for Venezuelan migrants receiving legal protections.
Gimenez has taken a particularly hard stance on Cuba. He has called for cutting off remittances and banning travel to and from the island — a move that would deeply affect newer Cuban immigrants with family ties back home.
In a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Gimenez wrote, “The murderous dictatorship in Cuba is on life-support… America must stand with the Cuban people to topple this pathetic gang once and for all.”
Despite his hardline views on Cuba, Gimenez supports a case-by-case review for asylum seekers already in the United States, arguing that Biden’s policies have created confusion and chaos.
A spokesman for Gimenez emphasized that he supports “solutions for exiles with legitimate political asylum claims who are stuck in immigration limbo.”
The Balancing Act
Florida’s Cuban-American Republicans face the challenge of retaining credibility among Trump’s loyal base while preventing alienation among the immigrant communities that powered their elections.
The stakes are especially high heading into 2026, with Democrats aggressively targeting South Florida seats and immigration policy expected to remain front and center in national debates.
As Trump presses forward with tougher rhetoric and stricter proposals, Salazar, Diaz-Balart, and Gimenez must continue navigating a narrowing political path — where loyalty to the former president collides with the realities on the ground in immigrant-rich Florida.
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