Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) criticized the cartoon and publication on Twitter, calling it divisive. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Albuquerque Journal apologizes for racially charged cartoon

The editor of the Albuquerque Journal this week apologized for a racially charged cartoon by political cartoonist Sean Delonas that depicted Dreamers as dangerous gang members.

Albuquerque Journal Editor Karen Moses said the cartoon was “poking at President Trump’s rhetoric.”


“In hindsight, instead of generating debate, this cartoon only inflamed emotions. This was not the intent, and for that, the Journal apologizes,” Moses said. “I also want to reiterate that we do not agree with many of the opinions expressed on the editorial pages, which are intended to encourage debate. Also, the editorial board decides what to publish on these pages, and that is separate from the newsroom and its reporters.”

The cartoon shows a terrified white couple being robbed at gunpoint by MS-13 gang members. There is a third man off to the side, who is holding bombs and a bloody knife.

With his hands raised in the surrender position, the male victim says to the female victim, “Now, Honey … I believe they prefer to be called ‘Dreamers’ ... or future Democrats.”

Delonas promoted the cartoon in a tweet Feb. 4 that said, “ DACA, Dreamers, Illegal, Immigration, Trump, Delonas, Sean, Cartoon.”

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According to the Journal, it has “supported a path to citizenship for the country’s estimated 1.8 million Dreamers.” New Mexico is home to 45 percent of the more than 2 million residents that identify themselves as Hispanics, according to a CNN report in 2016

Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) criticized the cartoon and publication on Twitter, calling it divisive, while Sen. Tom Udall, (D-N.M.) tweeted calling for the newspaper to apologize for the “hateful and offensive” cartoon.

Daryl Cagle, the publisher of Cagle Cartoons, which syndicates Delonas’ work, said he wasn’t surprised at the backlash behind the cartoon.

“I’m not surprised that this cartoon sparks outrage,” Cagle said Thursday, according to The New York Times. “It is up to each newspaper editor to decide what is appropriate to run in their own newspaper. My personal view is that I agree with the critics of Sean’s cartoon.”