U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, R-Brownsville, this morning announced he will boycott President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, this morning announced he will boycott President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Vela had previously planned to attend the event but changed his mind after migrants from his district were mistreated during a visit to Washington D.C.
“While visiting Washington, D.C., 40 migrant students from my district were subjected to comments of “beaners,” “burritos,” and “wetbacks” from inauguration attendees. One student was even spit on.”
Vela also said his boycott was due to Trump failing to select a Hispanic for his cabinet stating there would “be no Hispanic representation in the cabinet for the first time in 36 years.”
Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (D-McAllen) also announced Thursday that he will boycott the presidential inauguration.
Gonzalez’s Chief of Staff Jose Borjon said the congressman had planned to attend but decided not to because the president-elect failed to appoint any Hispanics to his cabinet.
Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) said Thursday morning he plans to attend the inauguration.
“I see my role as a congressman is to be part of this peaceful transition from one president to another president,” Cuellar said. “I’ve been doing this ever since I’ve been a member of congress. Regardless of what my opinions are of Donald J. Trump it’s the process it’s the tradition, the history we have that is important to me.”
Monitor Reporter Kristian Hernandez contributed to this report.
