Rep. Lauren Boebert is facing criticism and allegations of racism for a Halloween costume that many say mocked Mexican culture.
The Colorado congresswoman was photographed wearing a sombrero and a dress while holding a sign that read, “Mexican Word of the Day: JUICY. TELL ME IF JUICY ICE COMING,” according to ABC News and The Denver Post.
In additional photos, Boebert appeared alongside a man identified by ABC News as her boyfriend, Kyle Pearcy, who was dressed in camouflage with a vest and hat bearing the abbreviation for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The outlet reported that the photos were taken at separate events on Friday night, with critics accusing the pair of making light of the Trump-era immigration crackdown.
After the images circulated on social media, many condemned the costumes as “tacky, tasteless and racist.” One person who attended the same party told ABC News, “It is the most disgusting thing I have ever seen,” adding that people were avoiding the pair.
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Trisha Calvarese, a Democratic candidate for Colorado’s 4th District, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “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.”
In response, a spokesperson for Boebert said, “It’s a Halloween costume,” while criticizing Democrats for opposing a short-term spending bill — known as a continuing resolution — to end the ongoing federal government shutdown. The spokesperson urged senators to pass the measure, saying, “They are choosing to let millions of American families suffer.”
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Boebert has previously been criticized for inflammatory remarks. In 2021, she apologized after making an Islamophobic comment about Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. “I apologize to anyone in the Muslim community I offended with my comment about Rep. Omar,” Boebert said at the time. “There are plenty of policy differences to focus on without this unnecessary distraction.”