OPINION | Goya, praise and boycott

Editor's Note: Camilo Egaña is Camilo's driver . The opinions expressed in this article are exclusive to the author.

(CNN Spanish) - Robert Unanue, CEO of Goya, one of the leading Hispanic food companies in the United States - founded in 1936 by a Spanish immigrant - praised President Donald Trump at the White House.

"We are all truly blessed ... to have a leader like President Trump who is a builder," Unanue said during his speech. And he also said that Trump is "an incredible builder" and added that he prays for "our leader, our president."

Goya's chief executive was invited to the White House as part of Trump's Hispanic Prosperity Initiative to - reportedly - improve Hispanic Americans' access to educational and economic opportunities.

Unanue's praises of Trump have sparked another debate that once again evidences the national political tension; Trump's unpopularity among immigrants and the close defense of some followers of the President.

Some speak of boycotting Goya's products and others call to buy them.

A Goya spokesman said the purpose of the Unanue White House appearance was to announce a donation and support the Trump initiative.

But less than 24 hours later, the company's executive president himself appeared on Fox News, the television of the trumpistas, to make it clear that he did not apologize to anyone and assure that "it was good to talk to some friends."

About the boycott against Goya, he said it was a sign of "suppression of freedom of expression."

In any fairly civilized society, the right to say what someone wants is essential.

As long as the civic responsibility that this entails is not ignored.

I ask: Is there a right to disrespect entire communities under the sacred cloak of free expression?

In the United States, Goya is perceived as a formidable family business and, above all, Hispanic.

That is why some immigrants have received the words of the executive president of Goya as a door slamming in the face.

There are even those who speak of treason. And this hour they remember that after those first criticisms of Mexicans for being "rapists" and drug traffickers, Trump made the construction of the border wall the closest thing to an obsession.

And that with the same impetus he defended the policy that separated children from parents when they were detained at the border, images that hurt a lot in a community for which the family is the most important.

As the grandson, son, and husband of immigrants, Trump has not asked to hide even the deep contempt he feels for some immigrants. And they already know, for him those from a country like Norway would be welcome, but not from another like El Salvador.

But you know: there is no worse splinter than the same stick.

I ask: Is there a right to disrespect entire communities under the sacred cloak of free expression?

As for the executive president of Goya, I maintain that he can say what he wants. Now, face the consequences. Those are the rules of the game.