Dem strategist Maria Cardona says Trump's RNC speech 'put a target' on the backs of her immigrant friends

Maria Cardona faced backlash for claiming Donald Trump's RNC speech made the migrant community fear about their lives
Maria Cardona shared her concern over Donald Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric at the RNC (Screengrab/CNN, Getty Images)
Maria Cardona shared her concern over Donald Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric at the RNC (Screengrab/CNN, Getty Images)

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN: GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump's speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee has resulted in immigrants across the United States feeling unsafe, Democratic strategist Maria Cardona claimed.

The former president addressed illegal immigration thrice during his hour-and-a-half-long speech at the RNC. Calls for strengthening border security and deporting illegal migrants formed a central theme at the 4-day event from July 15 to 18.

Maria Cardona calls out Donald Trump over his anti-immigration rhetoric at RNC

Maria Cardona shared that her phone was flooded with messages from friends who were immigrants after Donald Trump's speech at the convention, reading along the lines of, "Oh my God, Donald Trump just put a target on my family's back."

"As an immigrant Latina myself, I feel that way too," she said, adding that she was thankful to reside in Washington instead of a rural, conservative part of the country.

"If I lived in Texas, or in some other rural, red area and my kids were out speaking Spanish—I would be in fear of their life for the words that Donald Trump spoke last night and that is what is at stake," added Cardona.

(X@MariaTCardona)
Maria Cardona spoke out against Donald Trump over his anti-immigration speech at RNC (X@MariaTCardona)

Donald Trump likens illegal immigration to 'massive invasion' at RNC

Donald Trump harped upon the issue of illegal immigration from the stage in Milwaukee, reportedly calling it a "massive invasion" at one point, and accusing it of spreading "misery, crime, poverty, disease, and destruction to communities all across our land," CNN reports. 

Trump later added that without closing the borders and finishing the construction of the southern border wall which he initiated during his first term in office, "No hope or dream we have for America" can succeed.

(Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)
Donald Trump referred to illegal immigration as a 'disease' at 2024 RNC (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

The convention floor was filled with signs reading, "Mass Deportation Now!" as other speakers brought up the subject as well, reported Fox News.

Former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) chief Tom Homan stated that Trump being back at the White House would bring new enforcement measures and more deportations, reports PBS News. 

"I've got a message to the millions of illegal aliens that Joe Biden has released in our country in violation of federal law: You better start packing now," he said to rousing cheers.

The theme of the RNC for July 16 was 'Make America Secure Again,' with speakers such as Michael Morin, brother of Rachel Morin who was allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant in 2023.

"Joe Biden and his designated border czar Kamala Harris opened our borders to him and others like him, empowering them to victimize the innocent," said Michael.

Maria Cardona slammed for going after Donald Trump

Social media users slammed Maria Cardona's comments on CNN about immigrants feeling targeted after Donald Trump's speech at the RNC.

"Name something that didn’t happen," mocked a user.



 

"If they're legal, they have nothing to worry about," wrote another.



 

"Stop! Just stop with the BS propaganda," stated a third.



 

"Is she harboring illegal immigrants?" inquired a fourth.



 

"Outright lie, I promise," jibed a fifth.



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Gretchen Whitmer, former VP Kamala Harris and other women are widely speculated to be potential candidates in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary
2026-10-25T21:55:26.000Z
Attorney General Todd Blanche refused to identify whom Trump meant when he claimed he ordered a DOJ lawsuit over Alaska's Senate race
2026-10-25T20:46:10.000Z
President Donald Trump has repeatedly targeted Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed with inflammatory language during the 2026 campaign trail, labeling him a 'radical extremist' and other.
2026-10-25T19:24:12.000Z
Democratic Senator Adam Schiff called out the conflicting claims by President Donald Trump, Starlink’s operator SpaceX’s owner Elon Musk, and Ukrainian President Zelensky, saying 'somebody is lying'
2026-10-25T17:35:46.000Z
Donald Trump accused Murkowski of opposing the lawsuit, which he argued could help prevent votes from being diverted from the Republican incumbent to the other candidate with a similar name
2026-10-25T16:10:22.000Z
Susan Collins, Abdul El-Sayed, James Talarico and Jon Ossoff face voter concerns over affordability, health care, Iran and Donald Trump's influence
2026-10-25T08:08:10.000Z
Barack Obama questioned Pete Hegseth’s priorities, suggesting his focus on troops’ appearances distracted from more pressing military responsibilities
2026-10-25T06:41:45.000Z
Vivek Ramaswamy defended his controversial ad featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother, accusing Acton of attacking his mother
2026-10-25T05:15:22.000Z
Elon Musk defended SpaceX’s decision, arguing that Starlink is a civilian commercial service and was never intended to support offensive drone strikes
2026-10-25T04:29:36.000Z
Ilhan Omar hired former Joe Biden attorney Amy Jeffress and Trump impeachment lawyer Joshua Matz amid a federal probe into her immigration history
2026-10-25T03:39:35.000Z