WASHINGTON -- Rep. Albio Sires won't be in the audience Tuesday when President Donald Trump delivers his first State of the Union address Tuesday night.

"The congressman is not attending the State of the Union because many of his constituents are offended by the president's rhetoric and behavior," said Erica Daughtrey, a spokeswoman for Sires, D-8th Dist.

Sires, a Cuban immigrant, is the first New Jersey representative to announce a boycott of the president's address to a joint session of Congress.

Earlier this month, Sires said it was "disgusting" that Trump described Haiti and African nations as "shithole countries."

"Trump's vulgar language is just another example of his disregard for hardworking Americans that come from all walks of life," Sires said at the time.

It is disgusting that the President of the United States has no regard for American values or the immigrant experience. His comments are downright insulting to countless American families like mine and others in the 8th District, who have worked hard to build new lives in the US pic.twitter.com/bC9JspN5i4 — Albio Sires (@RepSires) January 12, 2018

Sires has been a strong supporter of efforts to allow unauthorized immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to remain in the country. Trump revoked protections from deportation for these so-called "dreamers" and gave Congress until March 5 to come up with a legislative solution.

The failure of the Republican-controlled Congress to act contributed to the three-day government shutdown earlier this month after Senate Democrats refused to pass a spending bill without a provision allowing the dreamers to stay.

DREAMers are Americans. They do not deserve to have their lives hang in the balance due to political games. Today I met with NJ DACA recipients and @MakeTheRoadNJ to listen to their stories & discuss legislative solutions. pic.twitter.com/q1I0dLX0D6 — Albio Sires (@RepSires) January 18, 2018

Several other lawmakers, all Democrats, also are boycotting Trump's speech. They include Reps. John Lewis of Georgia, Maxine Waters of California, Fredricka Wilson of Florida, Gregory Meeks of New York, Pramila Jaypal of Washington, Jan Schakowsky of Illinois and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon.

More than 60 House Democrats, including Reps. Donald Payne Jr., D-10th Dist., and Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist., boycotted Trump's inauguration. Sires did not show up then either, although Daughtrey said he had been under the weather.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.