The official campaign account of House Republicans referred to Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) as “an illegal immigrant” on Wednesday, prompting fierce backlash.
On Tuesday night, Espaillat delivered the Spanish-language response to President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress. The lawmaker, who represents parts of Manhattan and the Bronx as part of New York’s 13th congressional district, criticized Trump’s plan to deport undocumented immigrants.
“Trump’s migration policy is not designed the way he and his allies say, to deport those who really should be deported,” Espaillat said. “We want a new immigration law that secures the border, protects the DREAMers, the agricultural workers and maintains our families unified.”
The next day, the National Republican Congressional Committee tweeted a brief excerpt of the speech.
“Democrats literally chose an illegal immigrant to give their response to President Trump’s address,” the account wrote. “Predictably, this radical called Trump’s presidency a ‘reign of terror.’ Democrats couldn’t be more disconnected from the American people.”
The 70-year-old Espaillat immigrated to the U.S. with his family from the Dominican Republic when he was 10. His family overstayed their visas but obtained green cards shortly afterward. He became a U.S. citizen in his late 20s – more than 40 years ago.
Several prominent figures – particularly New York politicians – teed off on the NRCC, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) declaring them “disgusting.”
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