Congressman Andy Ogles (R-TN) is calling for Democrat Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL), who is a part of the liberal Democrat “Squad” in the House, to be kicked off the House Homeland Committee, denaturalized, and deported, after she said in Spanish at a Panamerican conference in Mexico City: “I’m a proud Guatemalan before I’m an American.”
“We know where her allegiances lie,” Ogles said. “She certainly shouldn’t serve on Homeland security when she clearly doesn’t even believe this is her homeland,” Ogles pointed out.
Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Liz Huston said of comments made by Ramirez: “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.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also responded on their official X account with a quote from former President Theodore Roosevelt about Americans needing allegiance to the United States and calling for the condemnation of any other loyalties.
“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,” the X post said.
Ramirez, who has been in Congress since 2023, defended her comments in a statement, claiming she was simply showing pride in her multi-cultural, multiracial heritage. Ramirez is the daughter of illegal Guatemalan immigrants and an American citizen by birthright.
Ramirez is married to Boris Hernandez, a former DACA recipient, and is the only member of Congress in a mixed status marriage fighting for rights of undocumented immigrants, often called “Dreamers.” Her identity and heritage are central to her political platform.
The liberal Chicago representative attacked her critics saying: “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,” she proclaimed.
