U.S. Rep. Ramirez's comments on her Guatemalan heritage draws backlash from conservatives, White House

A comment made by U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago) at the Panamerican Congress last week in Mexico City has drawn strong criticism from both Republican leaders and the White House.

Ramirez — a second term congressman whose 3rd district includes parts of the Northwest Side, suburban Cook and Dupage counties — spoke at the second annual Pan-American Congress, which brings together delegations from countries across North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean, to discuss issues related to democracy.

In her speech, Ramirez spoke about the importance of building relationships with other leaders who are fighting against the threats to democracy to protect people.

Ramirez, an American citizen whose mother is from Guatemala, delivered her speech in English before switching to Spanish, according to a video posted to Youtube.

While some of her Spanish-language remarks captured on the recording are inaudible, her comments roughly translate as “I could say a few words in Spanish because I’m Guatemalan and proud of it — first, before American.”

The comment sparked backlash on social media, particularly among conservatives, with some suggesting that the congresswoman's remarks reflected misplaced allegiance.

Among the critics was the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which shared a quote from former President Theodore Roosevelt.

“There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism...Americanism is a matter of the spirit and of the soul," the post on X said. "Our allegiance must be purely to the United States. We must unsparingly condemn any man who holds any other allegiance.”

Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi called Ramirez's comments "un-American" and said anyone who "puts their allegiance" to another country first shouldn't be representing people in Congress.

"The United States is the greatest country in the history of the world and Rep. Ramirez’s ingratitude to America is betraying the faith of the people who elected her to represent them," Salvi said.

But Ramirez, who sits on the House Committee on Homeland Security, said she was simply sharing pride in her multi-cultural, multiracial heritage. In a statement, she said the criticism she was receiving wasn't about national identity, but instead an attempt to silence her political views against "the nativist, white supremacist, authoritarians in government."

"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," Ramirez said in the statement issued earlier this week.

"Anyone who denies our claim on this country simply because we dare to honor our diverse heritage and immigrant roots only exposes how fragile and small-minded their own idea of America really is."

The Democratic Party of Illinois did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ramirez, who began serving in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023, is the first Latina elected to Congress from both Illinois and the Midwest. She grew up in the Humboldt Park neighborhood and previously served as Executive Director of the Center for Changing Lives before entering politics. In 2018, she was elected to represent Illinois’ 4th House District in the state legislature, where she served two terms.

She has been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump and his policies, particularly on immigration.

In an interview with the Sun-Times ahead of the Democratic National Convention last year, she said the choice between the two presidential candidates is clear: "one is a convicted felon who has threatened to deport immigrants, and the other is the daughter of immigrants who risked everything to give her a better life."

In her speech last week, Ramirez also said immigrants were essential to the progress of the U.S.

"We are here representing the progressives, the champions of the left in the United States Congress," Ramirez said — who was joined at the summit by U.S. Reps. Jesus Garcia, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Summer Lee.

"We are here saying that we will return to that fight every day in the United States so that it is understood that the United States only moves forward because of immigrants, because of the relationships we have with you, because of equality and equity. So we will continue working for a more just, peaceful, loving world. One that honors our shared humanity because we know that it is possible."