In a striking rebuke, the White House has firmly dismissed a controversial immigration and amnesty bill proposed by Rep. Maria Salazar, R-Fla., sparking debate across political lines.
According to Breitbart, the proposal, introduced during a Capitol Hill press conference on July 15, 2024, has drawn sharp criticism from President Donald Trump’s administration while gaining support from some GOP lawmakers and business interests.
On July 15, 2024, Rep. Maria Salazar, R-Fla., stood before reporters on Capitol Hill to pitch a sweeping immigration reform bill. She urged President Donald Trump to endorse her plan, framing it as a historic opportunity. Salazar suggested that Trump’s survival of an incident in Pennsylvania a year prior and his return to the presidency were divine interventions calling for action on this issue.
“The same God who saved you from death in Pennsylvania one year ago and who put you back in the Oval Office, against all odds, is the same God Almighty who millions and millions are begging to for some type of dignity,” Salazar declared.
“It’s in your hands, Mr. President. May the Lord guide you,” she added. She also compared Trump to iconic leaders, saying, “I believe that you could be for immigration, what Lincoln was for slavery and Reagan was for communism.”
Salazar’s bill includes provisions to establish migration centers in Latin America for asylum pre-screening and family reunification services. It also offers a seven-year program for undocumented immigrants, granting work permits and protection from deportation if certain criteria are met. Additionally, the plan would increase high-skilled employment visas and modernize student visas to allow graduates to remain and work in the U.S.
Ten Republican legislators, including Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., have backed Salazar’s proposal. Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., emphasized the need for legal pathways, stating, “In the [Central] Valley, there are many people who have lived and worked peacefully for years, and they deserve a fair opportunity to earn legal status.” However, not all GOP members align with this stance, as figures like Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, advocate for reducing migrant legalization.
The White House quickly responded to Salazar’s pitch with a clear rejection. Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, affirmed, “The president made it clear he will not support amnesty for illegal aliens in any way.” Leavitt also noted, “From my understanding, neither the White House nor the President has actually read through this legislation.”
During his campaign, Trump repeatedly highlighted his commitment to restoring economic stability for Americans. In September 2024, he promised, “We will make housing much more affordable… [and] we will get [mortgage rates] back down to 3 percent.” He added that this would ensure “young people will be able to buy a home again and be part of the American dream.”
In August 2024, Trump criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of border security. He stated, “[Harris has] been the worst border czar in history… [and] 20 million people came over the border during the Biden-Harris administration.” Trump further lamented the financial struggles of Americans, saying, “Now you have people dying financially because they can’t buy bacon, they can’t buy food, they can’t buy groceries.”
Critics of Salazar’s bill argue it could harm American workers by increasing competition. Jessica Vaughan, policy director at the Center for Immigration Studies, described the proposal as benefiting “the unholy alliance of immigrant advocates… and big business employer interests who profit from illegal immigration.” She warned, “An amnesty for illegal workers is an amnesty for them too, and a way for them to avoid having to compete to hire American workers.”
Salazar’s plan would raise the annual inflow of both blue-collar and white-collar migrants beyond the current level of roughly two million combined permanent and temporary workers. Vaughan expressed skepticism about the bill’s appeal to Trump’s base, noting, “Salazar and her allies are clueless about what is important to Trump’s core supporters.” She also suggested the effort might be more symbolic, stating, “This [bill] is going nowhere, but they’re willing to go along with it so that they can tell some of their donors that they tried.”
The framing of Trump’s potential role in immigration reform has sparked varied reactions. Salazar positioned him as a transformative figure, but critics like Vaughan argue that her flattery misjudges Trump’s priorities. Vaughan remarked, “She thinks that’s what he’s a sucker for, [and for] flattery… [But] he doesn’t need these people — they’re never going to agree with him on any of his immigration policy goals.”
The rejection of Salazar’s bill underscores deep divisions within the Republican Party on immigration policy. While some GOP elites push for reduced migration to boost fairness and innovation, others align with business interests favoring expanded labor access. The outcome of this debate could shape Trump’s legacy on one of the nation’s most contentious issues.