Democratic members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and leadership railed against President Donald Trump\u2019s inaugural address Friday, calling for him to reevaluate his position on immigration.
The lawmakers slammed Trump\u2019s call to build a wall along the border and the possibility of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals being repealed.
CHC Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico said she recognizes some people feel left behind, but doesn\u2019t feel Trump laid out any viable solutions, adding she thought parts of the speech were \u201cworrisome.\u201d
\u201cI think he missed a real opportunity to in that congress and folks who were viewing and witnessing the inauguration to feel like their part of something that we have an agenda that everyone could feel good about \u2014 I didn\u2019t hear that,\u201d she told reporters. \u201cAnd when he pivoted to \u2018it\u2019s us versus everyone else,\u2019 those are my words, the we\u2019re going to put everyone here first \u2014 that\u2019s not how you build a safer stronger world.\u201d
Democratic Caucus Chair Joe Crowley of New York said Trump\u2019s remarks about making America wealthy again are misguided, arguing wealth should be measured by the country\u2019s values.
\u201cThe rhetoric that we\u2019re hearing today \u2014 although it may be heightened right now \u2014 we\u2019ve had that in the past when our ancestors look more like I do than the folks that are standing here today look,\u201d he said at a Friday press event.
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland said border security should be a priority, but believes Trump\u2019s approach is wrong. He argued the nation was built by immigrants therefore should offer them opportunities.
\u201cThe president\u2019s wife came from Slovenia for opportunity,\u201d he told reporters. \u201cThe president\u2019s rhetoric during the campaign was harsh, and inappropriate and ill-advised.\u201d
Hoyer said a large portion of his colleagues of immigrants and Trump should continue former President Barack Obama\u2019s policies.
\u201cWe just heard a speech, it was about making America first and America first, and we will make America first if the rest of the world and our citizens perceive us as the country we have been,\u201d he said.
Rep. Pete Aguilar of California went as far as to accuse Trump of using \u201cxenophobic rhetoric\u201d during the campaign.
\u201cDonald Trump founded his campaign on rhetoric that demonized one of the most important principles that built our nation \u2014 that we are proud to be a nation of immigrants,\u201d he said at the event. \u201cDonald Trump has normalized racism and demonized immigrants. He has insulted an inherent truth about our country\u2019s history, the United States is successful because of the contributions immigrants have made to our country.\u201d
Trump asserted in his inaugural speech securing the borders will play a pivotal role in keeping the country safe and increasing the number of jobs for citizens.
\u201cProtection will lead to great prosperity and strength. I will never, ever let you down. America will start winning again \u2014 winning like never before,\u201d he said in the address. \u201cWe will bring back our jobs, our borders, our wealth, our dreams. We will build new roads, bridges, airports and highways all across the nation. We will get people off of welfare. We will follow two simple rules: buy American and hire American.\u201d
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