Prominent Latinos and Latino groups are fed up with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's comments about the Mexican American judge taking on the Trump University alleged fraud case.

Speaker Ryan Disavows Trump

On Tuesday morning, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., spoke against Trump's comments about Judge Gonzalo Curiel. Trump had said the judge has a bias in the fraud case due to Curiel being "Mexican" -- although he was born in the U.S.

"I disavow these comments. I regret those comments that he made," said Ryan. "Claiming a person can't do their job because of their race is sort of like the textbook definition of a racist comment. I think that should be absolutely disavowed. It's absolutely unacceptable."

Although he criticized Trump, Ryan still spoke in support of him.

"But do I believe that Hillary Clinton is the answer? No, I do not."

Latino Groups Take on Racist Trump

On Tuesday, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) issued a statement claiming the Republican candidate's comments are "a slap to the face" to minority judges across the U.S.

"Claiming a member of the judiciary cannot preside over certain cases because of his race or ethnicity epitomizes racism and is a slap in the face to minority judges across the country," said LULAC National President Roger Rocha, Jr. "Our three branches of government work independently from each other to run our system of government in an efficient, effective manner, and to suggest that ethnicity or race be used to demand a judicial recusal is not only xenophobic, but threatens the notion of an independent judicial branch."

Rocha said Curiel is much of an American as Trump, but the Indiana-born judge should not have his integrity put at risk in favor of Trump's political desires.

"Trump's attempts to disparage and discredit Judge Curiel through his racist comments must not succeed. His attempt to recuse Judge Curiel based on ethnicity effectively turns our merit-based system on its head. Sadly, in Trump's world, one's ability to perform a task is not based on merit or qualifications, but instead on race and ethnicity -- such is not the American way," added Rocha.

The Latino Victory Fund, a political action committee that supports Latino candidates or candidates that support Latino policies, also hit Trump for attacking someone based on his or her ethnicity or religious affiliation.

"Just when you think Trump can't hit a new low he somehow manages to one-up his own racism and surprise us. He's gone after Mexicans, Muslims and immigrants, now he's attacking everyday Americans whose heritage he doesn't like, accept or respect," said Cesar Blanco, interim director of the Latino Victory Fund, in a statement.

Blanco added that Trump's comments about Curiel are unfounded and the businessman is trying to play victim in the case.

"No matter how hard he tries, Judge Curiel will not be his scapegoat, and our community and the American people will not stand by and let him destroy the fabric of America," said Blanco.

Kica Matos, the director of immigrant rights and racial justice for the Center for Community Change Action not only criticized Trump but also Ryan for still supporting him.

"This is an outrageous disconnect. In any moral world the equation is simple: racists lose the support of good meaning people. For Paul Ryan to say, yes he's racist but I still support Trump does not compute in a just world," said Matos.

Trump's Response

Following comments from the Latino groups, Trump issued a lengthy statement about Curiel:

"It is unfortunate that my comments have been misconstrued as a categorical attack against people of Mexican heritage. I am friends with and employ thousands of people of Mexican and Hispanic descent. The American justice system relies on fair and impartial judges. All judges should be held to that standard. I do not feel that one's heritage makes them incapable of being impartial, but, based on the rulings that I have received in the Trump University civil case, I feel justified in questioning whether I am receiving a fair trial."

Trump added that the media made inaccuracies about the Trump University case, and still called for the case to be dismissed.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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