Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. has issued a strong condemnation in response to the National Republican Congressional Committee’s (NRCC) now-deleted post that falsely referred to Rep. Adriano Espaillat, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, as an “illegal immigrant.”
The GOP campaign arm quietly removed the post after backlash, but organizations and political leaders—including Phi Beta Sigma, of which Espaillat is a proud member—have made it clear that a simple deletion is not enough.
In an official statement signed by the fraternity’s International President Chris Rey, JD and International Director of Social Action Malwan A. Johnson, Phi Beta Sigma denounced the attack as a “vile and baseless” effort to discredit Brother Espaillat’s service and integrity.
“Any claim that he is an ‘illegal immigrant’ is not only a blatant falsehood but also a deliberate attempt to discredit his unwavering service to the American people,” the fraternity stated. “Brother Espaillat exemplifies the core values of our Fraternity—Brotherhood, Scholarship, and Service—and has dedicated his life to uplifting communities and fighting for justice.”
Phi Beta Sigma’s leadership also framed the attack as part of a larger issue of misinformation and xenophobia in politics, urging its members to mobilize, advocate, and assert their presence in political spaces at all levels.
“In times of political turmoil, advocacy is not an option—it is a necessity,” the statement continued. “We must rise to the occasion, mobilize our voices, and assert our presence in every space where decisions are made. Whether at school board meetings, city halls, county councils, or state legislatures, we must stand firm and make our voices heard.”
The fraternity made it clear that its stance goes beyond this single incident. Phi Beta Sigma “rejects all forms of xenophobia and misinformation” and reaffirmed its commitment to inclusion, justice, and progress—principles that have guided the organization since its founding in 1914.
“Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. stands in unbreakable solidarity with Brother Espaillat,” the statement concluded.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which Espaillat chairs, also spoke out against the attack, stating that the quiet deletion was not enough. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the caucus demanded a public retraction and apology from the NRCC, rather than an attempt to erase the post without acknowledgment.
Read the full statement that was posted publicly to the Sigma’s Facebook page below:
