Hispanic Caucus members slam Trump after inaugural address

Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), along with top House Democratic leaders, panned President Trump’s rhetoric on migration and border security on Friday after his inaugural address. 

The Democrats used quotes by past Republican presidents and statesmen to repudiate Trump’s plan to build a wall on the border with Mexico, demand protection for recipients of former President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and to push for comprehensive immigration reform.

“‘It says something about our country that people around the world that people are willing to leave their homes and leave their families and risk everything to come to America. Their talent and hard work and love of freedom have helped make America the leader of the world,'” CHC Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) said, quoting President George W. Bush.

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“We come here to highlight the strong pro immigration stance that many presidents have taken before, which stands in stark contrast to this president,” added Lujan Grisham.

Trump’s inaugural speech Friday mirrored his campaign rhetoric, centered on the promise of “America first.” 

“Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families,” Trump said.

“We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs.”

Democrats expressed dismay at Trump’s speech, but vowed to fight to protect immigrants.

“This is not an issue just for the Hispanic caucus or any other caucus, it’s an American issue,” said House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) “This is who we are, a nation of immigrants, a nation who respects people for the content of their character, not their nationality, not their lineage.”

Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), former CHC chairwoman and current vice chairwoman of the Democratic Caucus, struck a combative tone, saying Trump “has made it abundantly clear, including in his speech today, that he is openly hostile to immigrants, particularly immigrants of Mexican ancestry. He views us as somehow being less American.”

“Mr. President, I’m an American and I’m a member of the United States Congress and I’m here to tell you that I’m not going anywhere,” she said. 

Trump promised during the campaign to undo Obama’s executive actions on immigration, but softened his tone on DACA recipients during the transition, and Republicans in Congress followed suit.

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said in a town hall last week he “would not pull the rug” from under the feet of DACA recipients, and bluntly put down the idea that 11 million undocumented immigrants could be rounded up and deported.

“It’s not happening,” Ryan said.

“There has been talk that of the idea that the new president may undo President Obama’s executive action known as DACA, and we hope he won’t do that without a replacement,” said Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas). 

Castro pointed to bipartisan legislation introduced in the House and Senate, the Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy Act, as a politically viable solution for the more than 700,000 DACA recipients.

While a bipartisan solution for DACA seems to be gathering steam, Trump has stuck firmly to his promise to build a border wall. 

“We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders.  We will bring back our wealth.  And we will bring back our dreams,” said Trump.

Democrats used the parallel with President Ronald Reagan’s famous 1987 “tear down this wall” speech in Berlin to express their opposition to the idea. 

“Ronald Reagan once said regarding immigration, ‘rather than talk about putting out a fence, why don’t we work out our mutual problems?'” said Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.). “Compare that to Donald Trump’s main campaign promise.”

“While Reagan sought to tear down the Berlin Wall, Trump seeks to construct them,” he added. 

Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.) said construction of a wall would ultimately prove damaging to the economy and do little to control immigration or enhance border security. 

“The bottom line is that it is a backwards investment,” said Cardenas.

Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.) also attended the press conference, as did Reps. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), Norma Torres (D-Calif.), Nannette Barragan (D-Calif.) and Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.).