'We can't appear inhuman': Father Alberto Cutié, analyst Alfredo Ortega lead debate on Voz News about Republican divide on immigration

Differences within the Republican Party over the immigration policy of President Donald Trump were laid bare during a debate held this Friday on the Voz News program, where Father Alberto Cutié and Republican analyst Alfredo Ortega discussed whether the deportation strategy could create divisions among conservatives and affect support from Hispanic voters ahead of the midterm elections.

The debate, moderated by Karina Yapor, anchor and executive director of Voz News, took as its starting point recent statements by Rep. María Elvira Salazar, who questioned the severity of some deportations and warned that part of the Hispanic electorate might feel betrayed. For Father Cutié, the congresswoman's statement reflects a concern among conservative voters who support the deportation of criminals but question the expulsion of people without criminal records from the country.

"I believe that what she is saying is giving a voice to millions of people who think, 'Well, we're deporting people who aren't really criminals,'" Cutié said. The priest added that many conservatives want to continue supporting the Republican Party, but "they don't want us to be perceived as an inhumane party or group of people."

Ortega, however, defended the enforcement of immigration laws and argued that the absence of a criminal record does not rule out a possible immigration violation. "We can talk about compassion, whatever you want; we can discuss many things, but if we put the law first, the people being deported violated an immigration law, and ICE officials are simply doing their job," he noted.

The Republican analyst also rejected any kind of abuse during immigration operations, though he insisted that agents must carry out their duties. "I do not condone any kind of spectacle or any kind of abuse," he stated.

During the debate, Cutié argued that there is concern among some conservative voters regarding cases of people who were in the process of seeking asylum or immigration regularization. "My parishioners and the people who supported the conservative cause do feel betrayed; they do feel that the president has failed to follow through on his promise to remove criminals," he said.

Ortega responded that the debate must be grounded in the law and questioned whether a shift in position on immigration could politically benefit Salazar. According to the analyst, his stance could generate backlash among both Democrats and more hardline Republicans. "We must not forget that we have to put the law first, the law above all else, because we are a republic governed by laws," Ortega stated.

Toward the end of the debate, Yapor suggested that the political impact of these positions must also be analyzed in light of the support Salazar continues to enjoy in her district. The host cited a recent poll which, she noted, showed the congresswoman with 77% support compared to 23% for Democrat Elliot Rodríguez.

The exchange highlighted two positions within the conservative debate: while Cutié advocated for greater consideration toward immigrants with no criminal record, Ortega insisted that the enforcement of immigration laws must remain the starting point.

You can watch the entire debate by clicking on the video below.