NRCC Faces Backlash for Calling Congressman Espaillat 'Illegal Immigrant'

The GOP campaign arm's statement falsely labeled Rep. Adriano Espaillat, a U.S. citizen for over 40 years, sparking accusations of racism and xenophobia.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) referred to Rep. Adriano Espaillat, a Dominican-born U.S. citizen, as an 'illegal immigrant' on social media.
Espaillat and his family overstayed their visas briefly in the 1960s but obtained green cards within a year and he became a U.S. citizen in his late 20s.
The statement followed Espaillat's Spanish-language rebuttal to President Trump's speech, where he criticized Trump's immigration policies.
Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, condemned the NRCC's remarks as 'disgusting,' with others labeling them as racist and offensive.
A spokesperson for the NRCC defended the comment as factual, redirecting criticism toward Democratic priorities on immigration and public safety.