Democrats slam GOP campaign committee labeling New York lawmaker an ‘illegal immigrant’
House Republicans’ campaign arm directly attacked Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat’s immigration status, drawing condemnation from Democrats.
“Democrats literally chose an illegal immigrant to give their response to President Trump's address,” the National Republican Congressional Committee wrote on X on Wednesday, adding that “Democrats couldn't be more disconnected from the American people.”
The direct attack of Espaillat, the first Dominican American member of Congress and a former undocumented immigrant, was met with a swift response from top Democrats who called the post racist.
“These people are disgusting,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on X.
Newly elected Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said the GOP “isn’t even trying to hide its racism anymore.”
“With Speaker @MikeJohnson leading the charge, they wear their bigotry like a badge of honor — absolutely despicable! @RepEspaillat is a sitting member of Congress, an American citizen, and a dedicated public servant,” Martin said on X.
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) said “Whoever is the intern @NRCC that tweeted this racist shit needs to be fired” in his own post to X.
Espaillat delivered Democrats’ Spanish-language response to President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress earlier this week. He and his family overstayed a tourist visa when he was a child but received green cards within a year.
Espaillat, who has now been a U.S. citizen for decades and chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, has proudly labeled himself a “former undocumented immigrant turned progressive Congressman.”
The New York Democrat has also battled with Trump on immigration policies dating back to his first term.
The NRCC doubled down on its language, responding to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul calling the post “Vile, ignorant, and racist.”
“Democrats caring more about policing words and fighting facts instead of policing our border and fighting crime shows just how out of touch they are,” said NRCC spokesperson Mike Marinella, echoing the NRCC’s response to Hochul online.
Espaillat’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Some Democrats, too, have used their political opponents’ citizenship status in recent attacks.
On Monday, Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) told Elon Musk, who has led Trump’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal government, to “go back to South Africa.”
Musk was born in South Africa but has been a U.S. citizen for decades.
"It was interesting yesterday — I was watching a video of an interview of Elon Musk where he said the Italians should stay in Italy and the Chinese should stay in China. My question to Elon Musk is — what the hell are you doing here in America?" Velázquez said at a rally outside HUD, misrepresenting an interview Musk gave where he was encouraging people to have children and reverse declining birth rates.
Musk has railed against illegal immigration in the United States. He has said he supports “a highly selective immigration policy” in the U.S. and has implied immigration could lead to a loss of distinct cultures globally.
Velázquez’s comments led to a slew of condemnation from Republicans, including from the White House’s rapid response team, which called the comments “completely unhinged.”
-
Jeffries bashes GOP for ‘illegal immigrant’ smear again House Democrat: ‘Disgusting’
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is hammering the Republicans’ campaign arm for falsely characterizing a Hispanic member of Congress as “an illegal immigrant.” The National Republican ...The Hill - 3h -
Trump says GOP should campaign on Democratic response to his speech
President Trump on Wednesday urged Republicans to campaign on how Democratic lawmakers conducted themselves during his joint address to Congress a night earlier, when several lawmakers walked out ...The Hill - 19h -
GOP lawmaker says she will criminally refer 4 Democratic mayors to DOJ
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) told four Democratic mayors before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee that she would criminally refer them to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for ...The Hill - 23h -
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo launches campaign for NYC mayor in bid to oust Eric Adams
Cuomo, who left his previous post because of a damning sexual harassment scandal, announced his candidacy on Saturday against fellow Democrat Mayor Eric Adams.CNBC - 5d -
Mom of Sam Nordquist, transgender man tortured and killed in New York, slams police response
The mother of a Minnesota transgender man who was tortured and killed in upstate New York suggested that his death was preventable if local authorities had "done their jobs."NBC News - Feb. 20 -
New York padlocks 207 illegal pot stores as licensed sellers gain traction
State gears up actions against illicit cannabis stores with the total count of legal shops in N.Y. now at 307.MarketWatch - Feb. 26 -
Deal reached to end illegal strike by New York state prison workers, governor says
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced an agreement to end a wildcat strike that has roiled the state’s prison system for more than a weekABC News - 6d -
Andrew Cuomo: Democrats need to 'reflect' on 'deteriorated' conditions in New York City
New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo (D) said Democrats must “reflect” on the “deteriorated” state of the city as he runs on a moderate platform advocating for expanding the number of ...The Hill - 2d -
Slotkin slams Trump in post-speech Democratic response
Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D) slammed the start of President Trump’s second term in office in the Democratic response to his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. In a roughly ...The Hill - 1d
More from Politico
-
Jim Jordan continues subpoena spree of social media platforms
Politico - 1h -
Al Green censured for joint session outburst
Politico - 4h -
Capitol agenda: Government funding frenzy
Politico - 7h -
House Democrats add Latino-heavy districts to most vulnerable list for 2026
The DCCC released its "frontline list" to shape the midterm map on where they’ll play defense.Politico - 10h -
Musk to House Republicans: DOGE ‘can’t bat a thousand all the time’
Politico - 17h
More in Politics
-
House Republican campaign arm faces criticism after falsely calling Latino lawmaker an 'illegal immigrant'
WASHINGTON — The National Republican Congressional Committee is facing backlash after falsely referring to Rep.NBC News - 15m -
US, Ukraine planning peace talks in Saudi Arabia: Witkoff
U.S. and Ukrainian officials are talking to set up a meeting next week in Saudi Arabia aimed at structuring the framework for a ceasefire with Russia and a peace agreement, President Trump’s ...The Hill - 37m -
Newsom calls trans athletes playing in women's sports 'deeply unfair'
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said he believes transgender athletes participating in girls’ and women’s sports is “deeply unfair,” breaking with Democrats on an issue that has become one of the ...The Hill - 38m -
Whoopi Goldberg: 'I have no plans to go back to the Kennedy Center' amid Trump's takeover
Whoopi Goldberg says she has "no plans to go back to the Kennedy Center" in the wake of President Trump's takeover of the Washington performing arts institution. "The View" co-host made her ...The Hill - 38m -
'Armed disturbance' at Florida naval base apparently false alarm
Military officials and local law enforcement on Thursday responded to an “active shooter situation” on Corry Station in Pensacola, Fla., but found no signs of a shooting, the Navy announced. Naval ...The Hill - 42m