Washington, Aug 26 (EFE).– The National Association of Hispanic Journalists, or NAHJ, criticized Republican presidential hopeful and real estate developer Donald Trump for ordering the removal of Univision’s Jorge Ramos from a press conference in Iowa.

The NAHJ ripped Trump in a statement for allowing the expulsion of Ramos “solely because he was asking questions.”

“Mr. Ramos was doing what journalists have done for decades: asking questions,” NAHJ president Mekahlo Medina said. “The reporter was simply holding a presidential candidate accountable for his statements about a very important issue.”

At the start of the news conference, Ramos asked Trump about his controversial immigration policy proposals, including building a wall along the border with Mexico and deporting some 11 million illegal immigrants, which started a verbal sparring match between the men.

“Please, sit down. Sit down,” Trump told Ramos. “You were not called. Sit down and return to Univision.”

As Ramos remained standing up and asking questions, one of Trump’s security men escorted the journalist out of the room.

The billionaire’s campaign staff allowed Ramos to return to the room a few minutes later and the reporter again asked Trump about his immigration plan, leading to an increasingly heated exchange between the presidential hopeful and the journalist.

The encounter between Ramos and Trump preceded a speech by the billionaire businessman in Dubuque, Iowa.

Iowa will be the first state to weigh in next year on who the Republican Party’s presidential candidate will be.

In June, after Trump made statements that offended Mexican immigrants by describing them as rapists and drug dealers, Univision cancelled its contract with the Trump-owned Miss Universe organization, refusing to broadcast the Miss USA contest.

Trump responded by suing Univision for $500 million for breach of contract. EFE