Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) sparked widespread backlash and drew condemnation from the White House after stating in Spanish, “I’m a proud Guatemalan before I’m an American,” during a summit in Mexico City over the weekend.
The remark immediately drew criticism and fueled accusations of divided loyalty.
Ramirez made the comments during the second annual Panamerican Congress, a far-left political summit that brought together progressive lawmakers from across the Americas.
The gathering featured several members of the so-called “Squad,” including Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Summer Lee (D-PA), as well as Reps. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL) and Ramirez herself, according to Fox News.
The event was organized by individuals with ties to leftist activism.
One of the directors behind the summit has reportedly been linked to a group critics describe as anti-American, RedState reports.
During her speech, Ramirez accused the United States of being “addicted to war” and charged it with pursuing “imperialism, militarization, conquest, control, competition in its attempt at domination.”
Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators swiftly condemned her remarks.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) called for Ramirez to be stripped of her U.S. citizenship, deported, and removed from the House Homeland Security Committee.
Others