SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, RGV – South Padre Island Mayor Barry Patel and President Trump have one thing in common – they own hotels.
Where they differ is the language they use to characterize Mexican visitors to the United States.
Trump kicked off his presidential campaign, in June 2015, with these infamous words: “When Mexico sends it people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
In a video interview conducted at one of his hotels, the Hilton Garden Inn on South Padre Island, Patel said such generalizations by President Trump are hurting business. He said fewer Mexican tourists are visiting South Padre Island and the reason they are giving is that they do not feel welcome in the United States.
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