Elections

Congressman Calls On 1 Million Immigrants To Obtain Citizenship To Vote To Stop Trump

(BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Chuck Ross Investigative Reporter
Font Size:

Speaking at a Hillary Clinton campaign event in Chicago on Monday, Illinois Rep. [crscore]Luis Gutierrez[/crscore] called for 1 million immigrants to obtain citizenship ahead of the election in November in order to stop GOP front-runner Donald Trump from winning the White House.

“We are going to make sure there are 1 million new immigrant citizens before November of 2016,” Gutierrez said while introducing Clinton at an event hosted by The Resurrection Project, a community organizer that provides “navigators” to helps immigrants obtain citizenship.

Navigators’ goal “is to help the 8.8 million residents legally here in this country become citizens of the United States of America,” Gutierrez said, flipping between English and Spanish.

Gutierrez, who was born in Chicago to Puerto Rican parents, also praised protesters who shut down Trump’s rally in Chicago on Friday.

“Last Friday in the city of Chicago people raised their voices,” he said.

Trump canceled the rally, which was to be held at the University of Illinois, Chicago, amid safety concerns. Poll Reveals How Chicago’s Anti-Trump Protest Affected Florida Voters

Saying that he wants to “stop the hate,” Gutierrez asserted that one way to do that was to “make your voice heard by becoming a citizen and voting on Election Day.”

Relying on a Spanish translator, Clinton also spoke to the group and praised the citizenship outreach effort.

“I am in support of what you are doing to try to help navigate people who are here, who are already permanent residents eligible for citizenship to take the next steps to become citizens,” Clinton said.

“We especially need you now because I know people are worried and they’re afraid by some of what they are hearing,” she continued, referring to Trump, who has said he will deport illegal aliens and force Mexico to build a wall at the southern border.

“So please help them navigate over the next month to be able to apply and receive their citizenship,” said Clinton.

Follow Chuck on Twitter