Top GOP Latino Calls Trump’s Judge Comments ‘Morally Abhorrent,’ Defends Trump’s Immigration Policy

By Dustin Siggins Published on June 9, 2016

Today a leading House conservative and Latino condemned Donald Trump’s comments about a judge with Mexican ancestry, even as he defended the presumed GOP nominee’s immigration policies.

“There is nothing wrong with saying you want to build a wall,” Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID) said at a press briefing in response to a question from The Stream about Trump’s policies. “There is nothing racist about saying that you want an immigration system that works. There’s nothing wrong with saying that we have let down the American public by letting so many illegal, undocumented people into the United States.”

“But I will not stand idly by listening to a person attacking the integrity of a judge because of their ethnicity,” said Labrador, one of “Newsmax’s 50 Most Influential Latino Republicans.” “That is absolutely morally abhorrent. I believe he needs to take it back, and I believe he needs to figure out how he can articulate his policy positions in a way the American people understand clearly and effectively.”

Labrador’s comments were his first to the national press since Trump first criticized Judge Gonzalo Curiel for ruling against the candidate in a case involving Trump University. According to Trump, Curiel’s Mexican heritage — he was born in Indiana to Mexican immigrants — create “an inherent conflict of interest” given Trump’s focus on building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico.

Trump also criticized Curiel’s presence in a Hispanic law group, La Raza Lawyers of San Diego, which is one of at least 10 groups with which Curiel has associations.

Trump’s comments were the focus of much of his appearances on Sunday talk shows, and drew heavy condemnation from many leading Republicans, including the leaders of both chambers of Congress. Trump appeared to be backing off the comments as the week went on.

Still, in today’s press conference, Labrador criticized the media for asking about Trump. “I do find it curious that you go after Trump on this issue and yet you have absolutely no problem when Obama pointed his finger at Supreme Court justices in a State of the Union address, and he tried to embarrass them in one of the most disgusting acts I have seen him do,” Labrador said.

In 2013, Labrador was a key member of the House’s Gang of Eight, which attempted to create a comprehensive immigration bill. The effort collapsed in part due to Labrador’s departure from the Gang after Democrats insisted that illegal immigrants not be responsible for their health care costs, according to ABC News.

 

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