Copyright Newsweek
Lauren Boebert, Republican U.S. representative for Colorado, faced criticism from Latino advocacy groups and political opponents after a photo surfaced of the congresswoman wearing a Mexican-themed costume at a Halloween party, according to a report from The Denver Post. The image, which circulated on social media over the weekend, showed Boebert wearing a sombrero and Mexican dress while holding a sign featuring a pun making light of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdowns. A man dressed as an ICE agent, purportedly her boyfriend, stood beside her in the photo, ABC News reported. Newsweek reached out to Boebert's office for comment via email Monday night. In a statement to The Denver Post, a spokesperson for Boebert said, “It’s a Halloween costume.” Why It Matters Boebert’s 4th Congressional District in Colorado includes a significant Latino population, even though it has the lowest representation of the demographic among the state’s eight districts, about 14 percent, according to the Colorado Redistricting Commission’s analysis of 2020 Census data. Critics argue that politicians have a responsibility to foster inclusivity rather than perpetuate negative stereotypes, especially during a period when immigration remains a controversial national issue. Her choice of costume has highlighted ongoing tensions around the effects of federal immigration policy and the experiences of immigrant families in her district. What To Know A photo posted on social media over the weekend depicted Boebert dressed in what appeared to be a traditional Mexican outfit, complete with a sombrero, dress and a hand-held sign reading, “Mexican Word of the Day: Juicy. Tell me if juicy ICE coming.” The wording was widely interpreted as a pun for, “Tell me if you see ICE coming,” and criticized for employing a stereotyped Mexican accent, per the The Denver Post. Next to Boebert was a man dressed as an ICE agent. Latino advocacy groups in Colorado swiftly condemned the congresswoman over the photo. “She should be ashamed of herself. Though I believe she is incapable of any emotion that generates human decency," Stacy Suniga, president of the Latino Coalition of Weld County, told The Denver Post, adding, "Her bigotry and ignorance are clearly evident in her chosen apparel this day.” When asked by the outlet, Boebert, through a spokesperson, declined to answer questions, simply saying, “It’s a Halloween costume.” The congresswoman's office redirected criticism toward Democrats: “Tell our Senators to vote for the CR and open the government. They are choosing to let millions of American families suffer," The Denver Post reported. Boebert, elected to Congress in 2020, has previously apologized for actions that generated public backlash, including a video in which she suggested that U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota could be a suicide bomber, and a public incident during a Denver theater performance. In the current incident, Boebert has offered no apology at the time of publication. Her district includes parts of Weld and Douglas Counties, encompassing rural eastern Colorado and suburban areas. The 4th Congressional District is a Republican stronghold in Colorado’s Eastern Plains. According to the latest Census data, Latinos make up at least 14 percent of the population in the district, a demographic often underrepresented politically in the region. The district’s Latino community has been vocal about their experiences with immigration enforcement and policy, adding context to the backlash against Boebert’s costume, per The Denver Post report. What People Are Saying Trisha Calvarese, Democratic candidate for Colorado’s 4th District, wrote on X Sunday: “Lauren Boebert put more effort into a hateful Halloween party costume than she ever has into serving the people of Colorado’s 4th Congressional District.” State Senator Julie Gonzales, co-chair of the Colorado Democratic Latino Caucus, told The Denver Post on Monday: “She should know that our culture is not a costume and being bilingual is an asset, not a joke. … Congresswoman Boebert chose to mock our community, co-opt our culture, and make a sick joke while immigrant Coloradans with lawful immigration status in her own district, such as fifth-grade teacher Marina Ortiz, are being detained by ICE after doing everything that has been asked of them.” What Happens Next It remains unclear if Boebert will issue an apology about her costume choice.
