Medical workers ask El Paso hospital not to host Trump

Medical workers in the El Paso, Texas, area are asking a hospital that is treating victims of last weekend’s mass shooting to not host President Trump, who is scheduled to visit the city on Wednesday. 

Workers started a petition asking University Medical Center, which is treating several wounded victims of the massacre that left 22 dead, to not host the president, according to the Arizona Republic. 

The petition had more than 1,000 signatures as of Wednesday morning, although it was not clear how many of the signatories were medical workers.

{mosads}”Given President Trump’s rhetoric on immigration, I believe that this visit will be harmful for both the families affected and medical teams caring for those families,” the petition said. 

“There have been reports that people injured during the attack on our community did not seek care out of fear of their immigration status,” it continued. “I am concerned that a visit by President Trump will further stoke fears about seeking care. This visit is not consistent with the values of El Paso.”

Lawmakers have also expressed resistance to a Trump visit, with 2020 presidential hopeful and former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D) engaging in a back and forth with the president over his scheduled visit, saying that he “should not come to El Paso.” Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) said that the president is “not welcome” in the city.

Trump is scheduled to visit El Paso after visiting the site of a second shooting over the weekend in Dayton, Ohio.

The two shootings left more than 30 dead and have reignited the national discussion on gun control.