Over the weekend, members of the progressive “Squad” made an unexpected appearance in Mexico City, where one lawmaker drew attention by declaring loyalty to another nation over the United States.
Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL), who represents Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District and has served in Congress since 2022, told a gathering of North American lawmakers that she considers herself “a proud Guatemalan” first and an American citizen second. “I’m a proud Guatemalan before I’m an American,” she said in Spanish to cheers from the multicultural audience.
The conference, held in Panama’s National Assembly, served as a platform for progressive lawmakers to coordinate strategies across borders in opposition to policies of the second Trump administration. However, Rep. Ramirez’s declaration sparked backlash online, with many social media users questioning her loyalty to the United States and calling for her to be stripped of her citizenship.
Born in Chicago to undocumented immigrant parents, Rep. Delia Ramirez is married to Boris Ramirez, a DACA recipient. Her campaign platform included a strong commitment to securing legal status for so-called “Dreamers.”
On X, hashtags including #DeportDelia and #AmericanFirst underscored the backlash that was generated by her comments as users expressed outrage. “She can, and should be kicked out of Congress immediately. Her allegiance is not to the United States of America, that in her own words,” one person noted.
Liz Huston, a spokeswoman for the White House, called Ramirez’s comments “despicable” and accused her of putting Americans last.
