Cerritos Congresswoman Uses Speech at DNC to Criticize Trump's Comments on Mexican Immigrants

LOS ANGELES, CA - Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Cerritos, used a speech at the Democratic National Convention on Monday in Philadelphia to criticize comments about Mexican immigrants who are in the nation illegally made by Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump.

“Donald Trump believes that Mexican immigrants are murderers and rapists. But what about my parents, Donald? Let me tell you what my parents are. They are the only parents in our nation’s 265-year history to send not one but two daughters to the United States Congress!” she said.

Sanchez's sister is Orange County Congresswoman and U.S. Senate candidate Loretta Sanchez.

Other Southland elected officials to speak on the opening day of the convention included Rep. Maxine Waters D-Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis and Sen. Kevin De Leon, D-Los Angeles.

The day's theme was "United Together: Putting Families First."

Solis and Waters are among six co-chairs of the convention.

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park, and fellow members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, which she chairs, are scheduled to speak Wednesday when the theme is "Working Together: A Clear Choice."

Mayor Eric Garcetti and his predecessor Antonio Villaraigosa are among the other scheduled speakers at the four-day convention, but the dates they will be speaking have not been announced.

Speaking dates have also not been announced for three other Los Angeles-area Reps. Xavier Becerra, Ted Lieu and Adam Schiff.

— City News Service contributed to this story, photo via Shutterstock