{"id":100700,"date":"2018-04-01T20:03:30","date_gmt":"2018-04-02T02:03:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/u-s-rep-jared-polis-incorrectly-claims-constituents-on-house-floor\/"},"modified":"2018-04-01T20:03:30","modified_gmt":"2018-04-02T02:03:30","slug":"u-s-rep-jared-polis-incorrectly-claims-constituents-on-house-floor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/u-s-rep-jared-polis-incorrectly-claims-constituents-on-house-floor\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Rep. Jared Polis incorrectly claims constituents on House floor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"U.S.
U.S. Rep. Jared Polis advocates for a permanent solution for Bayfield resident Edin Ramos, who is facing deportation, during an April 2016 speech on the House floor. In the speech, Polis incorrectly refers to the Ramos family as \u201cconstituents of mine,\u201d although they have always lived in Colorado\u2019s 3rd Congressional District.<\/span>Courtesy of CSPAN<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis is declining to say if he will correct the congressional record after misidentifying a Bayfield family as his constituents during an April 2016 speech on the U.S. House floor.<\/p>\n

The congressman, a Democrat running for governor of Colorado, also declined to explain how the error occurred or whether it should concern his constituents.<\/p>\n

In his speech, Polis spoke in support of the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans program, which would grant work permits and postpone deportation for some immigrants who are in the country illegally.<\/p>\n

Polis referred to Edin Ramos \u2013 who is facing deportation \u2013 and his family as \u201cconstituents of mine.\u201d But, the family lives in Colorado\u2019s 3rd Congressional District, which encompasses La Plata County.<\/p>\n

Polis, a Democrat, represents Colorado\u2019s 2nd Congressional District, which includes 10 counties in north-central Colorado.<\/p>\n

The Durango Herald published a story March 13 about Ramos\u2019 situation, and at the time, asked Jessica Bralish, Polis\u2019 spokeswoman, about the congressman referring to Ramos as his constituent.<\/p>\n

She told the Herald: \u201cCongressman Polis references Edin\u2019s family, and he does have family members in the district,\u201d she wrote. \u201cIt could have been clearer.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Herald contacted Polis again this week to ask if he had considered correcting the record.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough Mr. Ramos is not a resident of the 2nd Congressional District of Colorado, he has close family ties in Fort Collins,\u201d Bralish wrote in an email to the Herald on Wednesday. \u201cAssisting constituents, or their close family members, is standard practice.\u201d<\/p>\n

During his nearly six-minute speech, Polis advocated for a permanent solution for Ramos, who has since been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Edin Ramos of Colorado \u2026 fled his home county to avoid persecution and extortion,\u201d Polis said in his speech. \u201cHe\u2019s a very successful business owner in my district. He and his wife employ 12 people, make investments in our local community, and we rely on them for jobs and the services they provide.\u201d<\/p>\n

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