Kimberly Guilfoyle cited her Puerto Rican mother in her RNC speech to highlight her immigrant experience, but Puerto Ricans are US citizens

• Kimberly Guilfoyle spoke about at the RNC about her background as the daughter of immigrants, though her mother was born in Puerto Rico, which is a US territory.
• Guilfoyle shared her experiences in her speech at the Republican National Convention to highlight her experience as a "first-generation American" who knows "how dangerous" socialism is.
• She was born in San Franciso to a Puerto Rican mother and Irish father, who immigrated to the United States in 1957.
• Guilfoyle is a former prosecutor and Fox News personality who is currently dating Donald Trump Jr.

Kimberly Guilfoyle opened her intense speech on the first night of the Republican National Convention by calling herself a "proud American" and touting her heritage as a "Latina."

She then conflated proposals put forth by Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris with socialism.

"As a first-generation American, I know how dangerous their socialist agenda is," Guilfoyle said. "My mother, Mercedes, was a special education teacher from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. My father, also an immigrant, came to this nation in pursuit of the American Dream. Now, I consider it my duty to fight to protect that dream."

But Guilfoyle does not have first-hand experience with socialist policies. Puerto Rico is a US territory and its residents are US citizens. Her father, who is indeed an immigrant, came to the United States from Ireland. Guilfoyle was born and raised in California.

Many were quick to fact-check Guilfoyle's remarks and lambasted the ex-Fox News personality.

"The woman the GOP picked as their 'proud' Latina to tout 'immigrant experience' didn't seem to know that Puerto Rico is already part of the United States," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who also has Puerto Rican roots, tweeted. "It's quite on message, bc it reflects their belief that Latinos aren't real citizens, even when we are Native descendants."

Guilfoyle's speech, which made headlines for its forceful delivery and exaggerated claims, continued with praises of President Donald Trump and attacks on his 2020 opponent.

"Now, presidential leadership is not guaranteed, it is a choice. Biden, Harris, and the rest of the socialists will fundamentally change this nation," she said. "They want open borders, closed schools, dangerous amnesty, and will selfishly send your jobs back to China while they get rich. They will defund, dismantle and destroy America's law enforcement. When you are in trouble and need police, don't count on the Democrats."

Guilfoyle left Fox News in 2018 and started campaigning for Republicans during the midterm elections with her boyfriend, Donald Trump Jr. She joined Trump's 2020 reelection effort as a campaign adviser last year. Guilfoyle tested positive for COVID-19 in July.

The president's son congratulated Guilfoyle on Monday evening after her remarks. He also made a speech at the event.