Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) is facing criticism after remarks made during the second annual Panamerican Congress held in Mexico, where she reportedly stated, “I’m a proud Guatemalan before I’m an American.”
The comments were delivered in Spanish and confirmed by multiple Spanish speakers, according to the Daily Caller.
The summit, described by Daily Caller as a radical gathering organized by individuals tied to anti-American causes, featured Ramirez as one of several high-profile Democratic speakers.
Ramirez, who represents Illinois' newly drawn (gerrymandered) 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, attended alongside fellow “Squad” members Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA).
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During her remarks, Ramirez reportedly criticized the United States, describing it as “addicted to war” and accusing it of relying on “imperialism, militarization, conquest, control, competition in its attempt at domination.”
Denaturalize and deport. I’m not even close to kidding. https://t.co/plPmzrSlWq
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) August 4, 2025
These comments have generated bipartisan concern given her role as an elected member of Congress.
Ramirez’s remarks also drew a response from the White House.
Spokesperson Liz Huston, speaking to the Daily Caller News Foundation, said, “These Democrats’ comments are despicable and underscore their commitment to putting Americans last. In stark contrast, President Trump is working tirelessly to secure peace deals, deport illegal alien criminals, and advance America’s interests at home and abroad.”
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The Department of Homeland Security also issued a response in the form of a historical quote from former President Theodore Roosevelt: “There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. Americanism is a matter of the spirit and of the soul. Our allegiance must be purely to the United States. We must unsparingly condemn any man who holds any other allegiance.”
“There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism...Americanism is a matter of the spirit and of the soul. Our allegiance must be purely to the United States. We must unsparingly condemn any man who holds any other allegiance.”
- Theodore Roosevelt https://t.co/Jki0zCAiHG — Homeland Security (@DHSgov) August 4, 2025
Ramirez, who was born in Chicago, describes her background on her campaign website as a “mixed-status” family.
She is married to a DACA recipient and notes that her mother crossed the southern U.S. border while pregnant with her.
CNN previously reported that her mother crossed the Rio Grande in the process.
In addition to her remarks in Mexico, Ramirez has also advocated for increased activism in response to immigration enforcement actions.
Speaking to Axios, she said, “I think we should be doubling down, and I think what you're hearing from our members is we need to be spending next week doing these visits.”
She added, “I'm prepared to go to the detention centers in Indiana. If they're going to arrest me, then so be it.”
The statements come amid renewed debate over immigration enforcement and border policy, particularly following increased actions by the Department of Homeland Security under the Trump administration.
Ramirez and other members of the progressive caucus have been vocal critics of deportation operations and are calling for more aggressive opposition to current immigration enforcement practices.
The incident has continued to generate responses from lawmakers and voters, with questions being raised about the appropriateness of an elected U.S. official placing another national identity ahead of her American citizenship while representing the United States abroad.
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