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The Republican congresswoman from Miami, María Elvira Salazar, strongly criticized the recent decision by the Donald Trump administration to temporarily suspend all immigration applications from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and 16 other countries classified as "high risk."
In statements to the Miami Herald, the legislator described the measure as “anti-American”, and denounced that it represents a “collective punishment” against thousands of immigrants who have adhered to the laws and established processes.
“Freezing asylum, permanent residency, and citizenship processes is not the solution. It punishes hardworking immigrants who comply with the law and followed every step of the legal process,” said Salazar.
"That is unjust, anti-American, and contradicts all the principles that this country stands for. Background checks already exist to stop terrorists and should continue to exist," he added.
Salazar, one of the few Cuban-American congresswomen in Congress, openly distanced herself from the hardline stance of her own party, reminding that “thousands of immigrants from South Florida have patiently waited their turn,” and that the widespread suspension does not distinguish between those who have committed crimes and those who have followed the law.
"The innocent should not pay for the sins of the guilty," the legislator stated.
The new directive from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), issued last week following a shooting in Washington D.C. carried out by an Afghan citizen, establishes a widespread pause on immigration applications.
The measure impacts everything from applications for permanent residency to citizenship ceremonies, and includes the complete suspension of pending asylum processes, regardless of the country of origin.
The policy is one of the broadest immigration restrictions implemented by the Trump administration since its return to power.
The order from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) aims, according to DHS officials, to "strengthen national security and prevent the entry of potential threats," but has caused concern and confusion among lawyers and immigrant communities in South Florida.
Contrasts within the Republican bloc of Miami
While Salazar took a critical stance towards the measure, his Republican colleagues Mario Díaz-Balart and Carlos Giménez have issued a joint statement in support of Trump's immigration policy, arguing that it addresses the inherited failures of the previous government of Joe Biden.
"For four years, our urgent warnings about the consequences of the grotesquely irresponsible open border policies and the lack of background checks by the Biden Administration were ignored," both congressmen stated.
"Today, unfortunately, we are facing the consequences," they add.
Díaz-Balart and Giménez also stated that Trump's efforts aim to "protect national security by restoring order, enforcing the rule of law, and strengthening background checks."
This contrast reflects the internal tensions within Miami's Republican bloc, where migration—especially from Cuba and Venezuela—is a matter of significant political and human sensitivity.
Impact in South Florida
The DHS's decision has caused great concern among immigrant communities and immigration attorneys, who warn that the pause exacerbates a system already overwhelmed by years of delays.
Many immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, and Venezuela have found themselves in a state of uncertainty since the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and humanitarian parole, established under the Biden administration, were canceled earlier this year.
More than a million people from these countries have lost their legal protections and now find themselves in limbo, following the suspension of asylum interviews, green card approvals, and scheduled naturalization ceremonies.
In South Florida, numerous Cubans who were expecting to take their oath as U.S. citizens this week received notifications canceling their ceremonies, adding to the overall uncertainty.
A political and moral debate
The confrontation between María Elvira Salazar and the rest of the Republican bloc in Miami highlights the internal divisions within the party regarding how to address immigration in times of heightened political and economic tension.
For Salazar, the migration pause betrays the fundamental values of the United States, a country built by immigrants.
“Punishing those who did everything right does not make us safer; it only makes us less just”, said the congresswoman, reaffirming her stance in favor of a firm but compassionate immigration policy.
The debate, however, continues to grow in Florida, where the Cuban community—along with the Haitian and Venezuelan communities—experiences the consequences of Washington's decisions firsthand.
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