Florida Sen. Ileana Garcia (R), co-founder of Trump Latinx, slammed President Trump’s immigration crackdown and warned he “will lose the midterm elections” because of White House adviser Stephen Miller.
“I do think he’s going to lose the midterms because of Stephen Miller,” Garcia told The New York Times in an interview published Tuesday.
While Garcia publicly supports Trump’s plan to close the border, she blames White House deputy chief of staff Miller for the aggressive tactics used in the current crackdown.
Her comments came after federal agents in Minneapolis fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti over the weekend during a protest against the government’s immigration actions, weeks after an ICE officer fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Good in the city earlier this month.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Preti “attacked” federal law enforcement, while Mueller described Preti as a “potential assassin” who was “trying to murder federal law enforcement.”
White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt distanced herself from Trump’s comments on Monday, saying she had not heard the president “describe Mr. Pretty in that way” and respected the investigation.
“Twisted, politicized, defamed – defending what happened to Alex Pretty contradicts the American values the administration campaigned on. He was neither a domestic terrorist nor an assassin,” Garcia posted on the social platform X on Monday in response to Miller’s characterization of the incident.
“Allowing an individual like Stephen Miller, who represents the administration and makes strong decisions, to make comments like this will have long-term consequences… This is not what I voted for!” she continued.
Garcia, who helped elect Trump by winning support from Latino voters in 2016 and served in Trump’s Department of Homeland Security during his first term, blasted what she called “inhumane” tactics last year to achieve deportation goals.
Her comments marked the latest sign of growing dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of immigration as fallout from the Minnesota shootings continues to spread, with observers warning the issue could have lasting consequences for November’s high-stakes midterm elections.
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