Rep. Delia Ramirez, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, expressed greater pride in her Guatemalan heritage than in her American identity during a heated speech at the second annual Panamerican Congress in Mexico City. The event, hosted by the radical left-wing organization Progressive International and in partnership with Mexico’s left-leaning Morena party, attracted progressive lawmakers from across the Americas, including Reps. Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Presley, Summer Lee, Jesús Gilberto García, and Ramirez. The congresswoman, the daughter of immigrant parents, criticized U.S. policies, specifically targeting the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, and emphasized her personal connection to her Guatemalan roots, stating, “I’m a proud Guatemalan before I’m an American.”
The congresswoman’s remarks sparked controversy and condemnation from the White House, which labeled the comments as “despicable and underscore their commitment to putting Americans last.” Liz Huston, a White House spokesperson, contrasted Ramirez’s stance with President Trump’s alleged efforts to secure peace, deport illegal immigrants, and advance American interests. Ramirez, who is in a mixed-status marriage with a husband present in the country illegally, also spoke out in favor of comprehensive immigration reform and the rights of DREAMers. She described the U.S. government’s approach to immigration as prioritizing “imperialism, militarization, conquest, control, competition in its attempt at domination,” framing the country’s policies as extensions of historical domination.
Other participants in the summit, including Colombia’s deputy minister of multilateral affairs, Mauricio Jaramillo Jassir, praised Rep. Rashida Tlaib, calling her a “symbol of resistance,” which drew a standing ovation. The summit also featured discussions on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with several speakers emphasizing the need for global solidarity and critique of U.S. imperialism. Gerardo Fernández Noroña, president of the Mexican Senate, accused the Trump administration of