Rep. Maria Salazar (R-Fla.) is drawing renewed criticism after arguing that allowing millions of illegal immigrants to remain in the United States is essential to maintaining both the nation’s economy and its military strength.
Salazar made the remarks Monday while promoting her “Dignidad” immigration proposal alongside Democratic lawmakers, defending legislation that would provide legal status to millions of illegal immigrants who meet certain eligibility requirements.
“Let Them Stay”
During the event, Salazar argued that the nation’s economic strength depends on the labor provided by illegal immigrants and suggested that economic growth is directly tied to America’s military capabilities.
“Let them stay,” Salazar said. “Let them continue contributing to the number one economy in the world, so we can continue being the number one military in the world. [If] we don’t have the economy, we don’t have the guns, and we cannot defend ourselves.”
Salazar’s Dignidad Act would allow certain illegal immigrants without serious criminal records to earn legal status through a series of requirements, including continued employment, background checks and restitution payments.
Critics Reject National Security Argument
Opponents of the legislation questioned Salazar’s assertion that the United States depends on illegal immigration to maintain its military and economic strength.
Critics argue the country’s defense capabilities increasingly rely on advanced technology, domestic manufacturing and strategic industries rather than an expanding supply of low-wage labor.
They also contend that large-scale immigration has contributed to wage competition in certain sectors while businesses have continued moving manufacturing, technology and other high-value industries overseas.
Some immigration restriction advocates argue that legalizing millions of additional workers would further increase the available labor pool, further stagnating wages.
Previous ‘Cheap Labor’ Comments Resurface
Salazar’s latest remarks come months after comments she made in April insisting on an economic need for immigrant labor.
Responding to criticism that her bill primarily benefits employers seeking inexpensive workers, Salazar acknowledged that numerous industries rely heavily on immigrant employees.
“When people tell me that I am trying to help big business to have cheap labor, I’m going to answer them: It’s not [just] big business,” she said during a Capitol Hill press conference.
She went on to cite agriculture, construction, hospitality, health care and manufacturing as industries facing worker shortages.
“We all like milk, right? Well, there are 150,000 jobs available in agriculture right now,” Salazar said, adding that manufacturers and other business groups have publicly supported the Dignidad Act.
Debate Over Immigration’s Economic Impact
The comments reflect a broader debate over the role immigration should play in the American economy.
Business organizations, agricultural groups and some economists argue that immigrants help fill labor shortages in industries struggling to recruit workers, particularly in agriculture, elder care, construction and hospitality.
Others have argued that immigrants contribute to economic growth by increasing the labor force and consumer spending.
Others, however, contend that businesses have become overly dependent on low-wage labor.
Trump Administration Takes Different Approach
Salazar’s position differs drastically from that of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who have argued that reducing immigration strengthens American workers by tightening the labor market.
Speaking earlier this month, Vance said restricting immigration gives workers greater bargaining power.
“If you want to help a normal person, don’t provide a corporation nine low-wage migrants to compete against them when they’re bargaining for wages,” Vance said.
Vance also criticized decades of offshoring and what he described as an economy overly dependent on finance and imported labor.
“You actually give [Americans] more power when you have a more restricted immigration policy,” he said.
Hispanic Community Central to Proposal
Salazar also framed her legislation as benefiting Hispanic communities, arguing that a large share of the nation’s illegal immigrant population comes from Latin American countries.
“We’re talking about those millions and millions of illegals, undocumented people who belong to my community,” she said Monday.
“Probably 80 percent of the undocumented belong to the Hispanics, the largest and fastest-growing minority in the country. So why don’t we give them dignity? Let them stay—those who do not have a criminal record.”
The Dignidad Act has yet to advance in Congress, where immigration remains one of the most divisive issues.
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