Florida Congresswoman María Elvira-Salazar (R) praised President Donald Trump and his administration for the destruction of Venezuelan drug trafficking boats, while defending “Temporary Protected Status” (TPS) for Venezuelan nationals in the U.S.
“I applaud the Trump administration for destroying Maduro’s narco-trafficking boats on their way to poison our streets. Maduro is not Venezuela’s legitimate head of state,” Rep. Salazar stated. “The Trump administration is right to treat him like the cartel boss he is and use every hellfire missile necessary to stop his drugs and crime."
Salazar’s statement then turned to discuss the Trump administration’s suspension of TPS for Venezuelan asylum seekers looking to evade the political turmoil in Venezuela.
“But while we strike the narcos abroad, the end of TPS has created deep anxiety for thousands of Venezuelan families in Miami, hardworking taxpaying members of our community, now living in fear of being forced back to Maduro’s narco-dictatorship.” Salazar expressed.
“We must not send a single law-abiding Venezuelan back until conditions change, and right now they are only getting worse,” she concluded.
In May 2025, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the president’s desire to end TPS, much to the disapproval of immigration advocacy groups and some politicians.
Namely, Reps. Salazar and Wilson both released statements in response to the suspension of TPS.
“I am deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court's decision to abruptly end TPS for more than 350,000 Venezuelans,” wrote Salazar.”
“This decision is cruel and inhumane. These are folks who were escaping brutal dictatorships, gang violence, and turmoil," stated Wilson. “Deporting them is a death sentence.”
While Salazar remains a staunch opponent to the Venezuelan government and President Maduro’s drug-funded regime, she still advocates for protections for the Venezuelan asylum seekers placed in jeopardy due to the termination of TPS.
