Border Lawmakers Pressure Bank Over CEO's Trump Support

In a letter dated Saturday, Rep. César Blanco, an El Paso Democrat who chairs the House Border Caucus, told the IBC Bank board of directors that it is "unfathomable" that president Dennis Nixon is supporting Trump, whom Blanco called the "first racist presidential candidate since Reconstruction." Trump has angered many Latinos with his incendiary comments on illegal immigration and more recently, remarks suggesting a federal judge cannot be fair due to his Mexican heritage. 

"We will not stand quietly as Mr. Nixon allows this un-American hatred to permeate into the lives of Texans and damage the positive image of IBC Bank," Blanco wrote. "We leave it in the hands of the IBC Board of Directors to take action and correct this unacceptable representation of your institution. Our state and our nation have come too far and I trust IBC will represent its constituency and be on the right side of history."

Nixon has not responded to multiple requests for comment on his involvement in Trump's campaign in Texas. Nixon's fundraising role had already drawn attention because he is a longtime proponent of the kinds of immigration and trade policies Trump has spent much of his campaign criticizing. 

The caucus, which was formed last year, includes 10 active members, all Democrats, from districts along the border. 

Nixon is on the host committee for a Trump fundraiser scheduled for Friday in San Antonio. The San Antonio fundraiser is one of three Trump is expected to attend during his visit to Texas next week. He is also set to headline fundraisers Thursday in Dallas and later Friday in Houston.

Disclosure: Dennis Nixon and the International Bank of Commerce have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.