Lawler responds to leaders slamming him for questioning Westchester official's citizenship
Lawler responds to leaders slamming him for questioning Westchester official's citizenship
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Latino leaders react to Mike Lawler's questioning citizenship
Latino leaders speak out against statements by Rep. Mike Lawler when he questioned the citizenship of Legislature Vice Chairman Jose Alvarado.
This column was updated with new information.
Latino leaders, county legislators and Westchester Democrats on Thursday, Feb. 20, denounced Rep. Mike Lawler for questioning the citizenship of the county's highest-ranking Latino elected official.
The criticism was unleashed on the steps of the Michaelian Office Building in White Plains, where Lawler on Tuesday made the remarks to Jose Alvarado, vice chairman of the county Board of Legislators.
Alvarado, director of recreation in the city of Yonkers Department of Parks and Recreation, is serving his eighth term on the county board.
Lawler made the remarks on Tuesday as he and Rep. George Latimer, D-Rye, were meeting with the board Tuesday afternoon to discuss federal issues. Lawler, R-Pearl River, won a decisive re-election victory in November in a swing district with substantially more enrolled Democrats than Republicans. Lawler says he's considering running for New York governor in 2026.
Leading the press event on Thursday was Yonkers City Councilwoman Corozon Pineda-Isaac, D-Yonkers.
'We refuse to stay silent in the face of racism, discrimination and xenophobia,' she said. 'We are not going to allow anyone, not even a Congressman, no matter what's their title or position, to question our legitimacy and our worth."
Lawler had questioned Alvarado's citizenship after the vice chairman posed a hypothetical question about what documents someone who looks like him should carry to satisfy inquiries by federal agents with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That agency is currently scouring the country for undocumented immigrants with criminal records as part of President Donald Trump's mass deportation plans.
That effort has struck fear in the local immigrant community.
Lawler's Congressional office released a statement, calling the criticism "overblown and hyper-partisan." The statement included a letter from Latino leaders from Westchester and Rockland counties, who supported Lawler.
Those supporters included former Westchester County Legislator Virginia Perez, former Peekskill Common Councilman Joe Torres, and Jorge Folch, president of the Rockland County Hispanic Law Enforcement Organization.
Related: Did Mike Lawler question Westchester legislator's citizenship at meeting? What he said
"The attempts to twist his words into something sinister is a sad reflection on our current political environment when people immediately attack someone they disagree with instead of engaging in productive discourse," the letter stated.
Lawler spokesman Nate Soule called the criticism "ridiculous attacks."
"From Vice Chair Alvarado's predecessor to former members of the Peekskill City Council and leaders of prestigious community organizations, it's clear the ridiculous attacks on Congressman Lawler are overblown and hyper partisan,' said Lawler spokesman Nate Soule. 'Those engaging in this absurd character assassination only do so because they can't debate immigration policy or defend their own radical beliefs and votes.'
Lawler has not issued an apology to Alvarado, which was requested by the Democratic caucus of the Board of Legislators.
Alvarado, who emigrated to the U.S. in 1982 at age 17, became a U.S. citizen in 1989 after graduating from college.
Ximena Francella, of New Rochelle, who serves as co-chair of the Westchester Hispanic Democrats, said Lawler's words stung Westchester's immigrant community.
'It was a flagrant racist remark when he should know that a sitting elected official is an U.S. citizen,' she said. 'He's a MAGA Republican who always votes against the interests of the most vulnerable communities.'
Effie Phillips-Staley, a Tarrytown village trustee, said Lawler's remarks were an insult to the tens of thousands of Latino residents in the 17th Congressional District, and the estimated 200,000 Latinos who live in Westchester County.
Legislator Erika Pierce, D-Bedford, characterized Lawler's comments as 'hate speech of a sort.' She said Alvarado was asking Lawler what documents someone like him — an American citizen — needed to carry to show that he belonged in the county.
'At best it showed his ignorance, and at worst a complete lack of understanding and compassion for what Hispanic immigrants are going through today,' she said. 'He clearly did not care about the impacts of the question.'
Of interest: Lawler sues 60 in Westchester County jail to prevent them from voting in close NY-17 race
Pineda-Isaac said it was time for Lawler to take ownership of what he said.
'It's important when a community is telling you that (something) offended them, to embrace that offense, and take ownership of that,' she said. 'That's what he hasn't done. He has written it off, like it wasn't a serious offense.'
She said the community was awaiting his apology.
'At the very least, he should offer an apology to County Legislator Jose Alvarado,' she said. 'The first step is to accept the fact that you said something that was offensive.'
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David McKay Wilson writes about tax issues and government accountability. Follow him on Twitter @davidmckay415 or email him at dwilson3@lohud.com.
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