A left-wing Democrat lawmaker may soon face legal trouble after acknowledging that “half” of her extended family is living in the U.S. illegally.
Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-TX) drew attention last month for remarks in Mexico City declaring that her patriotism for her native Guatemala outweighs her feelings for the United States. Now, her latest comments are stirring even more controversy. Speaking on MSNBC, Ramirez openly stated that she is advocating for undocumented members of her family as they try to avoid deportation.
Ramirez, who represents Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District, is married to Boris Ramirez, a DACA recipient, and campaigned in part on a promise to secure legal status for so-called “Dreamers.” The Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda is deeply personal “for me, who is the daughter of immigrants, who half my family is still undocumented,” she told a panel.
On X, hashtags such as #DeportDelia and #AmericanFirst highlighted the backlash generated by her comments as users expressed their 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 wrote online, according to Trending Politics. Liz Huston, a spokeswoman for the White House, called Ramirez’s comments about supporting Guatemala over America “despicable” and accused her of putting Americans last.
Her comments mirrored those of fellow “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), who told an audience last year that her purpose in office is to support her native Somalia rather than the United States.
“The U.S. government will only do what Somalians in the U.S. tell them to do,” Omar said at a Somali gathering in Minnesota. “They must do what we want and nothing else… The U.S. is a country where one of your daughters (myself) is in Congress to represent your interests. Sleep in comfort, knowing I am here to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the U.S. system… Together we will protect the interests of Somalia.”
