While standing next to an enlarged photo on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois called on eligible immigrants to become citizens and register to vote.

During a House floor address, Gutierrez, for the second consecutive week, spoke about Trump and the real estate mogul's anti-Mexican remarks during the presidential campaign trail. According to Gutierrez, Trump's comments are not exclusive to the Mexican population but also Colombians, Dominicans, Hondurans, Puerto Ricans and all Latinos.

"[W]hen Donald Trump says 'Mexican immigrants' are criminals, what do I and other Puerto Ricans hear? I hear him saying all 'Puerto Ricans' are criminals, too, as far as Republicans are concerned. ... And it is clear to all of us that what he is really saying is that all Latinos are suspect, whether we were born here or not," Gutierrez said on July 15.

The Democratic congressman said Republicans are at risk of losing the Latino and immigrant community due to Trump's "racist attacks" on Mexican immigrants. He noted Republicans are making the same mistake made in 1990s California by not accepting immigrants, and as a result, the state voted Democratic. Gutierrez recognized that millions of immigrants become citizens, and millions of immigrant-citizens register to vote, and that will punish the Republican Party for "being mean, short-sighted and for offering demagoguery, not real solutions to real issues."

During the Wednesday morning speech, Gutierrez said Trump has been trying to be the leader of the GOP's anti-immigration wing.

The congressman called on Latinos to follow the footsteps of last generation Italians and Polish immigrants and become citizens then vote. Gutierrez acknowledged there are more than 8.8 million immigrants with a green card that meet residency requirements and eligible for citizenship. Of the 8.8 million immigrant green-card holders, 4.5 million are Latinos.

"Let's turn the ignorance and hatred of a TV personality running for president and turn it into something that strengthens democracy for all Americans," Gutierrez said.

"And you know what, if millions of people naturalize -- become citizens, and we add that the million Latino citizens who this year will turn 18 [years old], plus all of our allies in the African-American community, the LGBT voters, and younger voters, environmental voters, women voters, Asian voters, [and] union voters that are being pushed away by the Republican Party -- all the people they don't want in their coalition constitute a majority of Americans.

"Together we will create a stronger, more inclusive, more egalitarian nation. Let's turn Trump's negative words into something positive. That is how you deal with bullies and bigots."

Latin Post contacted the Trump campaign for a statement and will update this post when their comment becomes available.

Must Read: Donald Trump: 'I Will Win the Latino Vote'

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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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