U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores is “the first Mexican-born member of Congress.”
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Republican congressional candidate Mayra Flores speaks at a Cameron County Conservatives event in Harlingen, Texas on Sept. 22, 2021. (AP)
No, Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Texas, is not the first Mexican-born member of Congress
If Your Time is short
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Newly elected U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Texas, is not the first Mexican-born member of Congress. At least seven other members were born in Mexico, and three are currently serving in the House of Representatives.
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Flores is the first Mexican-born woman in Congress.
Despite multiple claims, newly elected Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Texas, is not the first Mexican-born member of Congress.
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., repeated the incorrect claim that Flores is "the first Mexican-born member of Congress," on a July 11 podcast.
"The Congresswoman meant to say the first female Mexican-born member of congress. She missed the word female," Boebert’s team told PolitiFact.
Flores herself made the claim on Twitter on June 15, a day after winning a special election to fill the seat held by Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, who resigned to take another job.
As a proud #WalkAway I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. If you voted for Biden or stayed at home in the 2020 elections, don't make the same mistake in 2022! I am the first Mexican Born American Citizen to be elected into Congress 🇺🇸 #TX34
— Mayra Flores (@MayraFlores2022) June 16, 2022
Although Flores, who was born in Burgos, Tamaulipas, Mexico, is the first Mexican-born woman elected to Congress, she is not the first Mexican-born member of Congress.
Three of her current colleagues in the House of Representatives were born in Mexico.
Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., was born in Moroleon, Mexico; Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., was born in Zacatecas, Mexico; and Rep. Jesus "Chuy" García, D-Ill., was born in Durango, Mexico.
García responded to Flores’ June 15 tweet the next day and shared a list of all members of Congress who were born in Mexico.
Featured Fact-check
Welcome to Congress. First lesson, be sure to fact check. https://t.co/UgeFlMD8f0
— Congressman Chuy García (@RepChuyGarcia) June 16, 2022
There are at least four other former members of Congress who were also born in Mexico.
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Sen. Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo, R-N.M., born in El Valle de San Bartolo (now Allende), state of Chihuahua, Mexico, served in the Senate from 1928 to 1929.
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Rep. Carlos Bee, D-Texas, born in Saltillo, Mexico, served in the House from 1919 to 1921.
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Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, D-Texas, born in Piedras Negras, Mexico, served in the House from 1997 to 2005 and again from 2007 to 2011.
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Rep. Ruben Kihuen, D-Nev., born in Guadalajara, Mexico, served from 2017 to 2019.
It’s also worth noting that Rep. Romualdo Pacheco, R-Calif., who served from 1877 to 1883, was born in Santa Barbara, California when it was a Mexican territory.
There are currently 29 foreign-born members of Congress, 10 of whom were born outside the U.S. to American parents or on U.S. military bases out of the country.
Our ruling
Boebert claimed that newly elected Flores is "the first Mexican-born member of Congress."
While Flores is the first Mexican-born congresswoman, throughout history at least seven other members of Congress were born in Mexico. Three of those currently serve beside Flores and Boebert in the House of Representatives.
We rate Boebert’s claim False.
Our Sources
Email exchange with Rep. Lauren Boebert’s press team, July 13, 2022
The Joe Pags Show, Must See: lauren Boebert Blasts Eric Swalwell — Big Time, July 11, 2022
Tweet, Mayra Flores, June 15, 2022
U.S. Congress Biographical Directory, Mayra Flores, accessed July 12, 2022
U.S. Congress Biographical Directory, Salud Carbajal, accessed July 12, 2022
U.S. Congress Biographical Directory, Raul Ruiz, accessed July 12, 2022
U.S. Congress Biographical Directory, Jesus Garcia, accessed July 12, 2022
U.S. Congress Biographical Directory, Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo, accessed July 12, 2022
U.S. Congress Biographical Directory, Carlos Bee, accessed July 12, 2022
U.S. Congress Biographical Directory, Ciro Rodriguez, accessed July 12, 2022
U.S. Congress Biographical Directory, Ruben Kihuen, accessed July 12, 2022
Tweet, Chuy Garcia, June 16, 2022
Congressional Research Service, Membership of the 117th Congress: A Profile, June 21, 2022
U.S. House of Representatives, History, Art & Archives, accessed July 12, 2022
U.S. Senate, Senators Born Outside the United States, accessed July 12, 2022
Pew Research Center, Immigrants and children of immigrants make up at least 14% of the 117th Congress, Feb. 12, 2021
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No, Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Texas, is not the first Mexican-born member of Congress
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