A Democrat congresswoman faced immense criticism for saying she’s a “proud Guatemalan” before she’s an American.

“Democrat Rep. Delia Ramirez at a summit in Mexico City this weekend tells the audience while speaking in Spanish: ‘I’m a proud Guatemalan before I’m an American,'” The Blaze wrote.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shared the footage, adding a quote from Theodore Roosevelt.

Fox News shared additional background info:

Several House Democrats, including members of the “Squad,” criticized the United States over the weekend at a conference in Mexico City that questioned U.S. influence and policies, with one lawmaker saying she was prouder to be Guatemalan than American.

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The second annual Panamerican Congress brought leftist officials from all over North and South America. Those in attendance included Democratic lawmakers: Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ayanna Presley of Massachusetts, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania and Jesús Gilberto García and Delia Ramirez of Illinois.

All are members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

During her remarks at the opening of the event, Ramirez spoke about the Trump administration’s illegal immigration crackdown and her own ancestry.

“I’m a proud Guatemalan before I’m an American,” she declared in Spanish. The congresswoman also accused the U.S. of prioritizing “imperialism, militarization, conquest, control, competition in its attempt at domination.”

On her website, Ramirez, the child of immigrant parents, said her husband is in the country illegally and that she is the only congressional lawmaker “in a mixed-status marriage, and fights for the rights of DREAMers like her husband, Boris, and for comprehensive immigration reform.”

Republican lawmakers condemned Ramirez’s remarks, with one representative calling for her deportation.

“Denaturalize, deport, and kick her off Homeland Committee. We know where her allegiances lie,” Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) said.

“Rep. Delia Ramirez says she’s a proud Guatemalan before she’s an American. Imagine saying that while serving in the U.S. Congress. The Democrat Party no longer even pretends to put America first. Embarrassing,” Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) commented.

Ramirez gave a lengthy statement in response to the criticism.

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“Let’s call it what it is: today’s attacks are a weak attempt to silence my dissent and invalidate my patriotic criticism of the nativist, white supremacist, authoritarians in government. It is the definition of hypocrisy that members of Congress —who betray their oath each day they enable Trump— are attacking me for celebrating my Guatemalan-American roots,” Ramirez said.

“No one questions when my white colleagues identify as Irish-American, Italian-American, or Ukrainian-American to honor their ancestry. I’ve consistently expressed pride in my heritage and history – a pride also often reflected in the origin stories of my colleagues. Only those who believe America should not include the children of immigrants or be diverse would attack me – and Americans like me – for honoring my roots,” she continued.

“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 on social media.

“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,” she added.

 

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