Xavier Becerra, the Democratic frontrunner in the California governor’s race, is facing accusations related to his family background after a viral social media post challenged his narrative of being the son of immigrants who arrived in the U.S. with $12. Critics, including conservative Latino activists and organizations, argue that Becerra's father was born in Sacramento and frequently traveled between Mexico and California, which contradicts Becerra's portrayal of his family's immigrant story.
Daniel Reyes, host of the Latino Free Minds podcast, criticized Becerra for allegedly exploiting immigrant hardships for political gain, stating, "He’s trying to get a vote, so he took his dad’s hard work and that success story, and just turned it into some pandering statement just for votes."
Becerra's Republican opponent, Steve Hilton, plans to present "The Case Against Xavier Becerra" on Wednesday, criticizing Becerra for his campaigning style and handling of issues such as the border crisis. Hilton has also questioned Becerra’s claims about his immigrant background.
Becerra's campaign has defended his statements, with Becerra describing his parents’ immigration story as "two immigrants, $12 and a dream" during a speech after the June primary election. His campaign website continues to reflect this narrative.
Jesse Holguin, founder of Latinos Exiting the Left, accused Becerra of misrepresenting his parents' story to connect with Latino voters, suggesting that Becerra is attempting to appear more relatable to this demographic. Holguin stated, "He just thinks that’s gonna make him sound more Latino to them."
Hilton criticized Becerra's approach as identity politics, claiming that the identity Becerra promotes is fabricated. He stated, "The more you see of Becerra, the more you realize what a totally contemptible, cynical career politician he is."
Becerra’s campaign responded to the criticism by accusing Hilton of exploiting anti-immigrant sentiments to divert attention from his own campaign issues. Campaign spokesman Jonathan Underland remarked, "Steve Hilton doesn’t seem to have a problem with immigrants who look like him — but openly attacks immigrants who look like Xavier Becerra."
Conservative commentator Anthony Cabassa, who highlighted Becerra’s father's birthplace in a social media post, criticized the campaign's defense of the immigrant narrative, stating that it is misleading. Cabassa noted that he began investigating Becerra’s family story after a follower questioned the accuracy of the $12 claim, leading him to discover details in the father’s obituary.
A historical biography from the U.S. House of Representatives indicates that Becerra’s father, Manuel Becerra, was born in Sacramento and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, while his mother, Maria Teresa, came from Guadalajara, Mexico. This information has been available in published profiles, but Becerra's campaign appears to have emphasized a more embellished version of the family history during the gubernatorial campaign.
The Republican National Hispanic Assembly of California has also criticized Becerra, stating that they are tired of political narratives that do not address the real challenges faced by Latino families. They emphasized the need for leaders who deliver tangible results rather than symbolic gestures.
This controversy follows allegations that Becerra disparaged migrant children during his tenure as health and human services secretary, which his campaign has denied as an outright fabrication. Reyes concluded that Becerra's father had a compelling success story without the immigrant label, asserting that a true leader should not misrepresent their background for praise.