Illinois Representative Delia Ramirez, a Democrat, has sparked controversy with her recent comments, referring to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, or ICE, as a “terrorist organization.” This follows her earlier statement, which caught the attention of many, wherein she declared herself a “proud Guatemalan” before an American.
Reports from the Netroots Nation conference, a gathering for left-wing political enthusiasts, indicate that Ramirez made these comments during her keynote address on August 8. The evidence suggests that her statements were targeted at Tom Homan, the former ICE Director. “Well, Tom Homan, let me tell you, all over the country: We will continue to stand up for our rights, and we will continue to call out the terrorist organization that is ICE,” Ramirez reportedly said.
Ramirez, who serves on the Homeland Security Committee, has also previously expressed a desire for the defunding of ICE and the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and has labeled the Trump administration as a “fascist government.”
Rep. Andy Ogles, of Tennessee, suggested punitive actions against Ramirez for her controversial comments, made in Spanish at a Mexico City conference. “Denaturalize, deport, and kick her off the Homeland Committee. We know where her allegiances lie,” Ogles was quoted as saying.
The Department of Homeland Security responded by posting a video of Ramirez’s comments and quoting 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. Our allegiance must be purely to the United States. We must unsparingly condemn any man who holds any other allegiance.”
Today, we see an increased tension and polarisation in discussions surrounding immigration and national identity. The facts present a stark divide in the perspectives within our democratic institutions.
