Florida State Senator Ileana García, a Republican and co-founder of "Latinas for Trump," has issued one of the harshest internal criticisms against former President Donald Trump's immigration policies from within the Republican Party.
In discussions with the New York Times, García stated that the government's immigration stance has become "untenable" and warned that it could lead to the party's defeat in the 2026 midterm elections.
García, a 56-year-old Cuban American and former official of the Department of Homeland Security during Trump's first term, expressed outrage over the death of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse shot by federal agents in Minneapolis.
"This has gone too far. What happened on Saturday was appalling," García declared, expressing her bewilderment at how authorities attempted to label Pretti as a "domestic terrorist."
"Alex Jeffrey Pretti was an American citizen. He did not draw a weapon or attack the agent. ICE agents drew their weapons before firing. Distorting, politicizing, and slandering to justify what happened to Alex Pretti contradicts American values promoted by the administration. He was neither a domestic terrorist nor a murderer," she wrote on X.
The senator also accused the White House of "distorting" the facts and argued that justifying Pretti's death is incompatible with the values Trump claims to uphold.
In the same tweet, she criticized Stephen Miller, a presidential advisor and architect of the White House's tough immigration policies.
"Allowing individuals like Stephen Miller and others who represent the Government and make hardline decisions to make such comments will have long-term consequences. This is not what I voted for!" she emphasized.
García was a crucial ally for Trump in 2016, co-founding "Latinas for Trump" and relocating to Washington to work in the public affairs office of the Department of Homeland Security.
At that time, she supported closing the Mexico border and building the wall. Now, however, she believes the immigration policy has "gone too far."
She now thinks Trump might lose the midterms because of Stephen Miller, though she insists she is "not absolving" the president for his actions.
"I'm not justifying what we are witnessing," she stressed.
The senator has also criticized the deportations of Cubans who committed non-violent crimes decades ago but have lived in the U.S. for many years. She condemned the targeting of Venezuelans and other immigrants with residency and work permits.
"Pursuing people like this is senseless. It's wreaking havoc on families and communities and is inhumane," she noted.
García shared personal experiences that have impacted her. At Tallahassee Airport, a TSA agent asked if she was a U.S. citizen after hearing her speak Spanish, and she admitted fearing that ICE might detain her own son due to his appearance.
She added that her concerns extend beyond immigration to the economy, admitting that during Trump's first term, the economy was strong and jobs were plentiful.
"Now they say the economy is better. I'm sorry, with all due respect: I do the shopping for my parents and count coupons," she explained.
Impact of Immigration Policies on U.S. Politics
How might immigration policies affect the Republican Party's chances in the midterms?
According to Senator García, the harsh immigration stance could alienate voters and potentially lead to the Republican Party losing the midterm elections in 2026.
What specific incident has Senator García criticized?
She has criticized the shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti by federal agents, arguing it was unjustified and went against American values.
Who is Stephen Miller, and why is he mentioned in the criticism?
Stephen Miller is a former advisor to President Trump and a key figure in shaping the administration's strict immigration policies. García believes his influence may have long-term negative consequences for the party.