A controversial billboard has appeared on the Palmetto Expressway in Miami, accusing Cuban-American politicians in South Florida of being "traitors" for their lack of support for the immigrant community in light of the stringent immigration policies enacted during Donald Trump's administration. The billboard, shared on Facebook by Cuban journalist Javier Díaz, features black-and-white images of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Representatives María Elvira Salazar, Carlos Giménez, and Mario Díaz-Balart. They are set against a red background, with the word "TRAITORS" boldly displayed in white capital letters.
Beneath this, the billboard delivers a threefold accusation: "To immigrants. To Miami-Dade. To the American Dream." At the bottom, the message reads "Protect TPS / Protejan TPS" (Temporary Protected Status), alongside the Venezuelan flag, underscoring the supposed indifference or rejection of these politicians toward maintaining this humanitarian immigration policy.
Javier Díaz noted on social media, "A billboard on the Palmetto Expressway labels South Florida's Cuban-American politicians as traitors for allegedly not supporting immigrants amid Trump's current policies. We'll see how long it stays up or if it's taken down before the advertising period ends."
According to El Nuevo Herald, the billboard is part of a campaign by the Miami-Dade County Democratic Hispanic Caucus, linked to the Democratic Party, which criticizes the inaction and silence of these Republican leaders in the face of Trump's recent measures. "Marco Rubio, María Elvira Salazar, Carlos Giménez, and Mario Díaz-Balart have turned their backs on us," stated Abel S. Delgado, president of the caucus. "Instead of defending our families, they have remained silent while immigrant communities are attacked, detained, and deported."
Heightened Immigration Tensions
This advertising effort comes as President Trump has reactivated extreme immigration control measures, including employing an old war law to detain hundreds of suspected gang members in a Salvadoran prison. Additionally, over half a million migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela face losing their legal status following the announcement that parole programs will be eliminated and TPS limited, as part of a systematic attempt to dismantle immigration protections established during the Biden administration.
The caucus particularly targets María Elvira Salazar, accusing her of crediting the Trump administration with extending TPS for Venezuelans—a measure the Democratic bloc claims was court-ordered, not initiated by Republican lawmakers. "This victory belongs to immigrant rights advocates, legal defenders, and the federal judiciary, not to politicians who enable attacks," said María Corina Vegas, a caucus board member. Vegas criticized, "This 'Gang of Four' lies and betrays a community that trusted them. As a Venezuelan-American who watched my country fall into dictatorship, I see the warning signs. Their complicity is shameful."
Political Repercussions
In response, Salazar told the Miami Herald through a spokesperson, "No one in the U.S. Congress has fought harder than I have for Venezuelans, Cubans, and Nicaraguans fleeing dictatorship. This is cheap, Castro-style propaganda." Meanwhile, representatives for Carlos Giménez, Mario Díaz-Balart, and Marco Rubio did not respond to requests for comment from the cited portal.
This is not the first time a billboard has sparked controversy in South Florida politics. During the last presidential campaign, a Miami billboard compared Trump to Fidel Castro, enraging his supporters. That billboard was removed days later after a direct complaint from Salazar to the advertising company.
The Miami-Dade Democratic Hispanic Caucus indicates that this billboard is just the first phase of a campaign aimed at mobilizing the Hispanic electorate in the county, a region where Republicans have gained ground in recent years. While details are scarce, they promise that the strategy will extend beyond highway advertising, as reported by El Nuevo Herald.
Understanding the Impact of Political Campaigns on Immigration Policy
Why are Cuban-American politicians being labeled as traitors on this billboard?
The billboard accuses them of not supporting immigrant communities during the implementation of strict immigration policies under the Trump administration, which many believe endangers immigration protections like TPS.
What is the significance of the "Protect TPS" message on the billboard?
The "Protect TPS" message calls for the preservation of Temporary Protected Status, a humanitarian immigration policy that provides temporary legal status to individuals from countries experiencing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or extraordinary conditions.
How has the local political landscape in Miami-Dade County been affected by this billboard campaign?
This campaign is part of a broader effort by the Miami-Dade Democratic Hispanic Caucus to mobilize the Hispanic electorate in a region where Republicans have recently gained influence. The billboard is intended to raise awareness and challenge the perceived inaction of certain Cuban-American politicians on immigration issues.