There are six congressional districts with a majority Hispanic population and a Republican congressional representative. Here they are, with the percentage of Hispanic population and recent comments well as some past comments about immigration.
On January 29, the three Florida representatives listed below (Diaz-Balart, Giménez and Salazar) released a joint statement that they stood in solidarity with the Venezuelan community, emphasizing the need for humane treatment and legal protections for those fleeing the Maduro regime.
David Valadao (CA-21) Fresno- San Joaquin Valley. 51% Hispanic. Valadao has warned that increased deportations could lead to higher costs for goods, emphasizing the economic impact on the Central Valley’s agricultural sector. In 2018, he stated: “It is important to create a fair process to give immigrants the opportunity to obtain earned citizenship, thus avoiding the creation of a second-class society.” In 2014, Valadao voted against a bill that would have dismantled the DACA program.
Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-25) Miami-Dade County, 72%. He has represented this reliably Republican district since 2003. He and Gimenez contacted DHS Secretary Kristi Noem regarding the “urgent situation” of Venezuelans losing TPS. They argued that social and political conditions in Venezuela have not significantly improved, implying concern about potential deportations. He wrote about Trump’s policy, “You can’t deport somebody back to a country where you know they’re going to potentially suffer real persecution.” In 2014, he was “eagerly seeking a deal” on undocumented immigrants that could gain bipartisan support.
Carlos Gimenez (FL-26). Miami-Dade County. 67%. As Mayor of Miami-Dade County in 2017, Giménez ordered county jails to comply with federal immigration detention requests. Regarding the termination of TPS for Venezuelans, he wrote Trump, “”I urge you to make a compassionate and individually tailored solution to those who contribute to our country and respect the rule of law.”
Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) Miami-Dade County. 69%. District has recently swung to the right. She has been the most vocal of the six express concern about Trump’s policy. She wrote to DHS, “Although President Biden originally created this new program [humanitarian parole for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua Venezuela] and on dubious legal grounds and brought individuals here without a plan for their future, they were still enrolled under programs offered to them. Therefore, I believe they should have the ability to see their applications out to rectify their legal status.” Salazar, along with other Florida lawmakers, expressed “profound disgust” after reports that a former high-ranking Cuban Communist Party leader was allowed to enter the U.S. through a visa parole program.
Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) McAllen. 83%. She said, “President Trump is focused on taking out of our country illegal immigrations who have committed crimes, crimes such as those that were committed against Laken Riley.”. She acknowledged that while the primary targets are those with criminal records, it’s possible that other undocumented immigrants might also be affected by the policy. She has referred to the Biden administration border policy as a “joke.”
Tony Gonzales (TX-23).San Antonio. 64%. This district was redrawn in 2021 to make it a safe Republican district Regarding mass deportation he recently said, “If the message is, ‘We’re here to deport your abuelita,’ that’s not going to work well. It has to be one of holding these hardened criminals accountable.” And, “If we’re going after the guy that’s picking tomatoes or the nurse at the local hospital and we’re not going after the convicted criminal, then our government has failed us.”