Rep. Delia Ramirez, of Illinois, said that her critics are unfair regarding her comments that she was first a Guatemalan, then an American.
By Catholics for Catholics
Countering a barrage of criticism and calls for her deportation, a Democratic congresswoman from Illinois doubled down and defended her comments, saying she is both Guatemalan and American.
Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., who was born in Chicago of Guatemalan origin, described herself as “both Chapina [Guatemalan] and American” and as “from both Guatemala and Chicago, Illinois.
Ramirez, wrote Fox News, “is the daughter of Guatemalan immigrants and an American citizen by birthright,” according to the news release in which she responded to the criticism of her controversial comment.
The polemic started when Ramirez commented in Spanish “I’m a proud Guatemalan before I’m an American,” according to a tweet from TheBlaze, which was shared by the official Department of Homeland Security X account.
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., called for the congresswoman to be deported. “Denaturalize, deport, and kick her off Homeland Committee. We know where her allegiances lie,” Ogles wrote on X.
Denaturalize, deport, and kick her off Homeland Committee. We know where her allegiances lie. https://t.co/57gIDPvAeU
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) August 4, 2025
When retweeting the Ramirez post, DHS put a quote, which it ascribed to 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.”
Ramirez countered via a statement: “Let’s call it what it is: today’s attacks are a weak attempt to silence my dissent and invalidate my patriotic criticism of the nativist, white supremacist, authoritarians in government. It is the definition of hypocrisy that members of Congress —who betray their oath each day they enable Trump— are attacking me for celebrating my Guatemalan-American roots.”
“No one questions when my white colleagues identify as Irish-American, Italian-American, or Ukrainian-American to honor their ancestry. I’ve consistently expressed pride in my heritage and history – a pride also often reflected in the origin stories of my colleagues. Only those who believe America should not include the children of immigrants or be diverse would attack me – and Americans like me – for honoring my roots,” Ramirez continued.
Honoring my Guatemalan ancestry only strengthens my commitment to America. That is the truth I carry with me always. And it is a truth that many Americans carry with them.
— Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (@repdeliaramirez) August 5, 2025
Anyone who denies our claim on this country simply because we dare to honor our diverse heritage and… pic.twitter.com/RWI7oboMcg
Ramirez added that by exalting her “Guatemalan ancestry” fortifies her “commitment to America.” The Congresswoman said she is one of many Americans who represent the “idea of America.”
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