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Miami Herald
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
At CPAC Latino, Salazar says give immigrants contributing to US a chance to stay
Immigrants who have been contributing to their U.S. communities for years while in the country illegally should be given the opportunity to earn legal status, Miami Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar said Saturday during a gathering of conservative Latinos. Salazar, a Republican whose coastal Miami-Dade district includes more than 535,000 people who identify as Hispanic or Latino, spoke about her 'Dignity Act' that she drafted with fellow Hispanic Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Texas Democrat The bill, which they introduced in 2023, would offer a way for immigrants who years ago arrived illegally to stay in the United States if they don't have a criminal record, contribute to the economy and pay restitution. Salazar, who has said she will reintroduce the legislation this month, emphasized that those who qualify would receive no government assistance, just a way to continue working in the country. 'Let's seal the border,' Salazar said. 'But once that is done, then we have to look back and start this national conversation, and then give some type of dignity to those people with no criminal record, who have been a part of our communities and who are decent human beings.' Though Salazar has been critical at times of elements of President Donald Trump's sweeping plan to deport millions of immigrants, she heaped praise on the Republican president. 'Trump will be for immigration what Lincoln was for slavery, and what Reagan was for communism,' she said. Salazar's comments came during a Conservative Political Action Conference event held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, co-hosted by Latino Wallstreet. Conservative leaders said during the conference that Hispanic Americans are only increasing their power and influence across the United States, touting the growing diversity of the Republican Party. This year's conference began one day after the U.S. Supreme Court decided Trump could move forward for now with a policy preventing children born to immigrants in the country illegally from receiving citizenship in places where there isn't pending litigation — which includes Florida. The policy also applies to children of some temporary visa holders. The policy is part of a bigger Trump administration agenda to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and end programs that have either provided temporary legal status or deferred immigration enforcement for people who came from places like Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Beyond Salazar's comments, the topic of immigration enforcement went mostly undiscussed throughout the day. When event organizer Mercedes Schlapp, a senior adviser for communications during Trump's first administration, was asked prior to Salazar's speech about the congresswoman's position on immigration — including a social media post saying she was 'heartbroken' by the way ICE raids were affecting Miami communities — Schlapp said events like CPAC are meant to bring people with different viewpoints to the stage. 'We're not going to agree on everything,' Schlapp said. 'And I think for Maria Elvira, she is speaking up for her community in South Florida.' During her speech, Salazar also denounced socialism and said Democrats have been 'infiltrated' by it, referencing self-titled democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani's recent win in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary. She said Hispanic Republicans have to act as 'saviors of the party' to prevent the same thing happening across the aisle. Several speakers said Hispanic people were at the heart of the modern Republican Party. Former Republican U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores from Texas and Trump special assistant Jenny Korn said that without the Hispanic vote, Trump would not have won the 2024 election. Trump 'loves Latinos,' Korn said, and he works with advisers of Latino descent, like her, on issues of national security. Flores said she wanted to see more Hispanic people in Congress to represent that influence. 'Hispanics are the future of this party,' Flores said. 'If the Republican Party wants to win big this upcoming midterm, they've got to continue investing in the Hispanic community.'
Miami Herald
27-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
What to watch as CPAC Latino 2025 comes to South Florida
Federal lawmakers, celebrities and business owners will gather Saturday and Sunday for an annual conference co-hosted by Latino Wallstreet and the Conservative Political Action Conference, a major forum for conservative influencers. The event follows an election in which Donald Trump attracted more support from Hispanic voters, becoming the first president in nearly 40 years to win majority-Hispanic Miami-Dade County. But it comes amid some pushback against his immigration-enforcement policies from Hispanic leaders in Congress. As pressure on elected officials mounts from impacted communities, the U.S. Supreme Court also paved the way Friday for Trump to move forward with a policy revoking citizenship from children born to immigrants in the country illegally and some temporary visa holders in places where there isn't pending litigation — which includes Florida. In a political climate where conservative Hispanic voters have become a major factor in Florida elections, the theme of CPAC Latino 2025 is prosperity, said Tony Delgado, event organizer and founder of Latino Wallstreet. The event is meant to connect Latino business leaders and politicians so they can work in tandem to create a thriving economy nationally. Among the recent immigration debates, Delgado wants to create a place for people to communicate and improve the livelihoods of Hispanic people. 'I want to dispel this very negative notion that Hispanics come here for a handout, or we come here for welfare,' Delgado said. 'It's quite the opposite. I think Hispanics come here and they work hard, and they work harder than anyone else frankly, and the more financial freedom you have, the more actual freedom you're able to exercise.' Here are three things to watch out for at CPAC Latino 2025. How will U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar talk about immigration? Salazar, a daughter of Cuban exiles, has openly critiqued Trump's immigration enforcement decisions this past month. She most recently wrote on social media Tuesday that economic growth is slowing because of people being deported in the construction, agriculture and hospitality sectors. She has said she is 'heartbroken' by how ICE raids at immigration courts have affected her constituents. She is slated to be a speaker at the conference, Delgado said. He anticipates a discussion surrounding the 'Dignity Act,' an immigration bill Salazar and others are currently working on that could create a path to citizenship for those who contribute to the economy and have no criminal record. Salazar did not respond to a request for comment. Will Richard Grenell talk about Venezuela? Grenell, a former U.S. ambassador to Germany and a current envoy for special diplomatic missions under Trump, is also scheduled to speak Saturday. Grenell was involved in negotiations with Venezuela to allow Chevron to continue exporting Venezuelan oil to the United States in exchange for accepting deportees, sources told the Miami Herald last month. He has denied this claim in the past. At a CPAC event in Maryland earlier this year, Grenell spoke about a variety of foreign conflicts, including in Gaza and Ukraine at the time, and how Trump was planning to deliver peace in those areas. Grenell did not respond to a request for comment. How will U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds appeal to Hispanic voters? Donalds has officially launched his campaign for Florida governor with over a year to go until Election Day. He is also expected to speak at CPAC Latino this year, Delgado said. Latino Wallstreet typically partners with the Republican Party of Florida at events like these, Delgado said. Donalds was a natural pick because of his staunch support of a free market and tax-free policies, he said, and Delgado wanted to give him a platform to discuss what he plans to do for Florida. 'Byron will protect our freedoms and stand strong against the Democrats' socialist agenda,' said Danielle Alvarez, a spokesperson for his campaign.
