Luján: Views of Author of Heritage Foundation's Immigration Report Are Shocking and Reprehensible

Press Release

Congressman Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico's Third District and Second Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus released the following statement today on reports that Jason Richwine of the Heritage Foundation and co-author of a recent report on the cost of immigration wrote a dissertation that claims that Hispanics have a lower IQ than whites.

"It is reprehensible that someone would make the argument that one race is inherently not as smart as another. Jason Richwine's extremely offensive views of the Hispanic community are shocking. They also illustrate the narrow-minded attitudes that we must confront in our attempt to pass comprehensive immigration reform that will strengthen our security, our economy, and families across our nation.

"Hispanics have contributed much to the fabric of America in every aspect from starting small businesses to serving in the military. To suggest that "new Hispanic immigrants will have low-IQ children and grandchildren' is simply appalling.

"It was already clear that the Heritage Foundation report on the costs of immigration reform is a flawed document meant to undermine efforts to pass immigration reform. The deeply offensive views held by one of its authors underscore just how much credibility this report lacks."

Source