María Elvira Salazar Applauds Trump's Openness to Immigration Deal

In a noteworthy development, Cuban-American Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar praised President Donald Trump for his remarks on CBS's 60 Minutes, where he acknowledged that his administration's deportation policies were "too harsh." Trump indicated a willingness to negotiate with Democrats on granting legal status to undocumented immigrants without criminal records.

Salazar, in a post on X, directly addressed the president: "Well done, Mr. President! What you described on 60 Minutes is precisely what the Dignity Act is about. A bipartisan immigration bill led by Republicans."

She connected Trump's statements to her own legislative proposal, the Dignity Act, which she reintroduced in July 2025 alongside Democrat Veronica Escobar.

Immigration Reform: A Persistent Debate

The conversation around potential immigration reform in the U.S. continues to evolve. Stay informed with our updates in the U.S. Immigration section.

During the Sunday interview, Trump admitted that the deportation of non-criminal workers had a significant political cost: "When you walk into a hotel and there's a woman who's worked there as a waitress, as a cleaner, and suddenly she's deported, it's tough, it's very tough."

Outlining a possible agreement, Trump added, "Remove the murderers, the violent criminals, the drug traffickers, but for those who’ve been here ten or fifteen years, negotiate something for them."

Salazar enthusiastically echoed these sentiments: "You said it: those who have been here ten or fifteen years, 'negotiate something for them.' That's the heart of the Dignity legislation."

Trump's Legacy and the Path Forward

Salazar urged Trump to seize this opportunity: "Mr. President, I've said repeatedly: you can unite Republicans and Democrats to finally fix our broken immigration system. A forty-year problem. You can surpass Reagan's legacy by achieving a historic immigration reform. This is your moment."

The political climate adds weight to this alignment. Democrats regained control of both congressional chambers in the November 3 elections—the first time since 2006—and a CBS exit poll showed 58% of voters felt the administration's immigration measures went too far.

Salazar emphasized that immigration impacts more than border security: "It's not just about border security. It's about the economy and the cost of living: housing, food, health, manufacturing."

The Dignity Act: A Bipartisan Effort

The Dignity Act, as of October 15, had 40 cosponsors in Congress—20 Republicans and 20 Democrats. It proposes a renewable temporary legal status of seven to ten years for immigrants without criminal records who have resided in the U.S. for at least five years, without a direct path to citizenship, and requires a restitution payment of approximately $7,000.

The relationship between Salazar and Trump had faced challenges before reaching this point. In September, Salazar recorded a video outside the White House criticizing the detention of 50,000 individuals in July, half of whom had no criminal history, sparking a strong reaction from the president. After a private reconciliation, Trump formally endorsed her on October 31.

Salazar's statement comes as her position in Congress hangs in the balance with a recount underway in Florida's 27th district. Although declared the winner on election night, preliminary results showed her leading by just 1,090 votes—a 0.44% margin—over Democrat and former anchor Eliott Rodríguez. The machine recount is scheduled for Monday, November 9, at 10:00 a.m. at the Miami-Dade Elections Department in Doral.

For the Cuban community in the U.S., Trump's openness arrives at a pivotal moment: ICE arrests of Cubans surged by 463% between late 2024 and early 2026, and over 42,000 Cubans faced pending deportation orders.