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The Republican senator from Florida, Ileana García, one of the most prominent Hispanic allies of Donald Trump and founder of the "Latinas for Trump" movement, has distanced herself from the president by labeling his current immigration policies as inhumane.
The legislator, daughter of Cubans, affirmed that her stance does not reflect an ideological break with the Republican Party, but rather a deep concern for the human impact these measures are having on immigrant communities, especially in South Florida.
García was a key figure during Trump's first presidential campaign.
Since 2016, when she, along with other women from Miami, founded the group "Latinas for Trump" to support the businessman’s candidacy, she has played a strategic role in mobilizing the Hispanic female vote, contributing to the electoral backing that enabled the then-candidate to reach the White House.
Subsequently, during Trump's first term, she held a significant position as spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which solidified her as one of the most influential Hispanic representatives within his administration.
However, his current position highlights a significant shift in one of the most sensitive issues on the Republican agenda.
In the program "Virtual Meeting with Gloria Ordaz," from Telemundo 51, the senator openly expressed her disagreement with the direction taken by Trump’s immigration policies, which in her opinion do not reflect the values or the realities of many immigrant families living and working in the United States.
García explained that his criticism stems from direct experience and close contact with immigrant communities, which he describes as hardworking individuals who contribute to the economy and seek stability for their families.
From their perspective, some of the decisions made regarding immigration have caused unnecessary suffering and have disproportionately affected vulnerable groups.
The senator also stated that within the Republican Party, there are many voices that share her concern, but they prefer not to express it publicly for fear of political backlash.
Although García reiterated that he has not abandoned his Republican affiliation or his conservative principles, he made it clear that he believes it is essential to rethink the immigration approach.
Her statements highlight the tensions that persist within the Party regarding an issue that remains central to national politics and that, according to the senator, requires leadership, as well as sensitivity and coherence with the reality of millions of immigrants in the country.
In June, the state senator broke ranks with Trump's immigration policy by describing the measures implemented to detain immigrants as "unacceptable and inhumane."
"I have always supported Trump, in good times and bad. However, this is unacceptable and inhumane. (...) This is not what we voted for," García stated in Miami.
Her reaction came after it was revealed that federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were conducting mass raids, including in courts, to meet a daily goal of 3,000 deportations driven by Stephen Miller, Trump's chief advisor on immigration policy.
"I understand the need to deport criminals, but this is a hunt against law-abiding individuals who fear returning to their countries," García emphasized during a statement reported by Miami Herald.
In November 2020, Ileana García was elected as state senator for Florida's 37th district, after a close vote between her and the Democrat José Javier Rodríguez.
The Republican was officially declared the winner of the contest for the district that encompasses Miami to Key Biscayne and Cutler Bay, which has a Hispanic majority, with 34 votes more than her opponent.
"I am deeply honored by the final results of this election. I am committed to bringing the concerns of the residents of District 37 to Tallahassee, and I will work to ensure that the American dream is a possibility for all families in our community," she said in a statement.
"I will immediately start enhancing opportunity scholarships, boosting the growth of small businesses to create jobs, and urgently addressing the cleanup of Biscayne Bay. As State Senator for District 37, I will tirelessly advocate for the interests of my constituents at the State Capitol," she assured.
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