A significant warning is emerging from within the Republican Party's own ranks, as Latino lawmakers sound the alarm over a potential electoral disaster in the upcoming midterm elections. The central concern is President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement, which they argue is causing a mass exodus of Hispanic voters from the GOP.
Florida Republicans Voice Grave Concerns
Since Tuesday, a trio of Florida Republicans have publicly expressed their fears, with one state senator directly criticising a key White House architect of the policy. State Senator Ileana Garcia, who faces a tough reelection battle in her swing district, delivered a stark assessment to the New York Times.
'I do think that he will lose the midterms because of Stephen Miller,' Garcia stated, placing blame squarely on the President's Deputy Chief of Staff. She later claimed on social media platform X that her criticism of Miller, a principal architect of the mass deportation policy, had resulted in her being 'doxxed.'
In a defiant post, Garcia said, 'Why have we become everything we've criticized? I’m not afraid of you, Stephen Miller.'
A Broader Political Warning
While Representatives Carlos Gimenez and Maria Elvira Salazar have not explicitly called for the removal of Miller or Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, they have issued clear warnings about the party's precarious political position.
Salazar posted to X on Tuesday night, 'I warned about this months ago, before the headlines caught up. Today we are watching it unfold in real time. Hispanics are leaving the GOP in large numbers, and pretending otherwise won't fix it.' She urgently implored her party to 'reverse course and act now.'
Speaking to Newsmax, Gimenez expressed broader concerns about the November races, which historically could shift control of the House of Representatives to the Democrats. 'And also, this is politically, it's hurting our chances at the midterm. And I'm just being frank about it,' Gimenez said, adding that he had told the Trump administration 'there has to be a better way to do this.'
The Shifting Latino Vote
The warnings come against a complex backdrop of Latino voting patterns. President Trump made remarkable gains with Hispanic voters in the 2024 presidential race, narrowing a 38-point deficit against Hillary Clinton in 2016 to just a three-point loss to Vice President Kamala Harris eight years later, even winning Latino men.
However, the 2025 off-year elections saw a dramatic reversal, with Latino voters returning to the Democratic column in significant numbers, helping elect Democratic governors in both Virginia and New Jersey. It was in the aftermath of these elections that Salazar first voiced her concerns publicly.
In a video post on November 5, she stated, 'I've said it before, the Hispanic vote is not guaranteed. Hispanics married President Trump, they're only dating the GOP.' She elaborated that while Latino voters supported removing 'bad Hombres,' they also sought dignity for long-term residents without criminal records who contribute to the economy.
Recent Events Intensify the Issue
The political climate has grown more heated following recent enforcement actions. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection agents conducted operations in Minneapolis, resulting in the deaths of two American citizens and the detention of a five-year-old child.
Polling Reveals Deep Disapproval
New polling data underscores the lawmakers' concerns. A recent Daily Mail/J.L. Partners poll conducted on Monday reveals significant disapproval among Latino voters regarding the administration's immigration record.
- 51% of Latino voters disapprove of the Trump administration's record on immigration, compared to 44% of white voters.
- 58% of Latino voters disapprove of ICE specifically, versus 50% of white registered voters.
- 57% of Latino voters believe ICE should withdraw from U.S. cities, with 50% of white voters agreeing.
- 48% of Latino voters think Secretary Noem should be fired, and 49% believe she should be impeached by Congress.
Pollsters did not ask about Stephen Miller's fate, but the data paints a clear picture of discontent.
A Silver Lining Amidst the Storm
Despite these strong feelings on immigration enforcement, there remains a sliver of positive news for President Trump. His overall approval numbers with Latinos have not completely collapsed. He currently holds a 42% approval, 58% disapproval rating with this crucial voting bloc.
J.L. Partners pollster James Johnson told the Daily Mail, 'Trump's numbers with Hispanics are actually holding up relatively well.' However, he highlighted the fundamental problem facing Republicans in November: President Trump will not be on the ballot. This absence removes his personal connection with a segment of Latino voters, potentially leaving the GOP exposed on an issue that is driving voters away.
The internal warnings from Latino Republicans suggest the party faces a significant challenge in reconciling its immigration enforcement agenda with the need to retain a voting bloc that proved pivotal in recent elections.
