For Immediate Release: March 6, 2025
Contact: media@hispanicfederation.org
Immigration and Latino Leaders Denounce GOP’s Racist Attack on Rep. Espaillat and Call for Apologies
Hispanic Federation, America’s Voice, Latino Victory Fund, LULAC, Mi Familia Vota, Poder Latinx, UnidosUS, and Voto Latino offer reactions; access online here
Washington, DC – Yesterday, following Rep. Adriano Espaillat’s (D-NY) powerful Spanish language response to President Trump’s joint address to Congress Tuesday evening, the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) stated in a social media post, “Democrats literally chose an illegal immigrant to give their response to President Trump’s address.”
As the Congressional Hispanic Caucus responded, “This xenophobic rhetoric from Trump Republicans proves that you can follow the law, get your papers, become a citizen, get elected to Congress — swear multiple oaths to protect and defend the Constitution — and all you will ever be to Trump Republicans: an ‘illegal immigrant.’” (Also see this HuffPost story for a roundup of other denunciations and background on Espaillat’s immigration history).
Today, immigration and Latino leaders joined together to call for an official apology from Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) and NRCC Chair, Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) and to put the NRCC’s attack into context. Leaders from the Hispanic Federation, Latino Victory Fund, LULAC, Mi Familia Vota, Poder Latinx, UnidosUS and Voto Latino joined with America’s Voice, which organized the joint statement, to issue the following quotes:
- Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation: “President Trump’s joint address gave implicit clearance for his supporters to go even further with rhetoric that disrespects hard working Americans. It got to the point that the House GOP campaign arm referred to Representative Espaillat, a sitting Congressmember and Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, as ‘illegal.’ Such an ignorant and hateful remark shows blatant disregard for our government and the long arduous process of becoming a U.S. citizen. We should celebrate how Representative Espaillat took legal steps to become a US citizen, not belittle it. The comment also reiterated the danger of intentionally using disinformation and, for all intents and purposes, deception to move a political agenda. Hispanic Federation calls on the National Republican Congressional Committee to publicly retract their statement and denounce any future derogatory language.”
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Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice: “This vile attack is another example of the disrespect that the Trump administration and his allies in Congress have for the Latino community and all immigrants in America. Speaker Johnson and Chair Hudson should have the decency to apologize for this attack from the GOP’s official campaign arm on their House colleague Adriano Espaillat. Beyond the ugliness of the NRCC’s attack, it also embodies the continued descent of a once proud party. Rep. Espaillat’s personal journey is the quintessentially American story, rising from challenging circumstances in his childhood to pursue a career in public service and politics, eventually becoming the first Dominican-American Member of Congress. His story should be celebrated by Republicans and Democrats alike and serve as a model for the types of journeys that a more functional immigration system would empower if reformed. If a sitting U.S. Congressman is not American ‘enough’, who is then?”
- Katharine Pichardo-Erskine, Latino Victory Fund President & CEO: “Here we go again. ¡Mucho habían tardado! The NRCC’s rhetoric demonizing an upstanding Latino member of the U.S. House of Representatives by using words like ‘illegal’ and ‘radical’ is nothing new or innovative. It’s the same old tired playbook, and it would be boring if only it wasn’t dangerous and wrong. The MAGA xenophobia that has permeated the public discourse is meant to sow fear in our communities, and America will not stand for it. Nos vemos en los midterms.”
- Roman Palomares, LULAC national president and chairman of the board: “LULAC forcefully repudiates the disgraceful and inflammatory attack by the NRCC against Congressman Adriano Espaillat, a distinguished leader and public servant. Their attempt to demean and discredit him based on his childhood immigration journey is a shameful ploy rooted in division and intolerance. This rhetoric is not only false but also dangerous—it fuels hostility against Latinos. It signals that even the highest elected officials from our community are fair game for hateful attacks. We must reject the toxic practice of name-calling and the thinly veiled hate speech that seeks to dehumanize and diminish us. America is stronger when we stand together, even in disagreement. The NRCC should be ashamed for stooping to such disgraceful tactics. The world is watching.”
- Hector Sanchez Barba, President and CEO for Mi Familia Vota: “Once again, MAGA is using hateful and dehumanizing rhetoric to attack our communities. Targeting Rep. Espaillat, a respected member of Congress is not just an attack on one person, but an attack on every American who believes in dignity, respect, and the values of this country. It is vital that we remain vigilant against any hateful language that undermines the rich diversity and strength of democracy. Because this dangerous rhetoric is what has fueled violence, fear, and division in our communities for far too long. We CANNOT allow Trump and MAGA’s hate and racism to be normalized and define our nation. We MUST continue to choose unity over division, respect over racism, and humanity over fear.”
- Yadira Sanchez, Executive Director for Poder Latinx: “The NRCC’s attacks on Congressman Adriano Espaillat are not only aimed at his integrity and person, but to the values of representation, inclusion, and justice. As a trailblazing Latino leader, he has fought tirelessly for immigrant rights, working families, and communities of color. We will not stand by bad actors and their vile attempts to discredit those who defend our democracy and the immigrant community. Poder Latinx stands with Congressman Espaillat and all leaders who fight for a more just and equitable future.”
- Janet Murguia, President and CEO of UnidosUS, the largest Latino civil rights organization in the country: “This contemptible and malicious NRCC post is an attack on an honorable public servant and leader. It is also what poker players call a “tell.” Congressman Espaillat came to this country as a child, has been a legal immigrant and then US citizen since 1965, a historic figure as the first Dominican American to serve in Congress and is someone who has devoted his life to public service and helping Americans of all backgrounds live a better life. Rep Espaillat is also Chair of the powerful Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the voice for the nation’s 65 million Latinos in the House and Senate. Yet all the NRCC – the campaign arm of House Republicans sees is an ‘illegal alien.’ Not nice and not very smart. What shameful and foolish bigotry. We call on Speaker Mike Johnson to apologize immediately to Chair Espaillat.”
- Maria Teresa Kumar, Voto Latino Co-Founder and President: “The NRCC’s attack on Congressman Adriano Espaillat is not only factually false but also a dangerous continuation of the xenophobic playbook used by Republicans against fellow Americans who may not agree with them. Representative Espaillat, like millions of naturalized Americans, chose this country and swore an oath to protect our Constitution. The people of New York’s 13th district elected Congressman Espaillat to represent them in Congress because of his life experience and his commitment to public service. This cheap rhetoric is not about legality; it is about othering U.S. citizens with proud immigrant roots. Its aim is to dehumanize us, and its attempt is to divide us instead of unifying us. We encourage members to denounce this harmful rhetoric.”
