Representative Delia Ramirez recently shared deeply personal and starkly critical views regarding federal immigration enforcement during an interview. She described experiencing symptoms akin to post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in her community.
Ramirez didn’t stop at describing personal impact. She went further, characterizing both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE as “terrorist organizations,” a claim she has made publicly before, including during a speech earlier this year.
Her statements painted a picture of fear within the communities she represents. Ramirez asserted that residents live in constant apprehension, hesitant to leave their homes, regardless of their immigration status. She connected this fear directly to the visible presence of federal enforcement, specifically mentioning the impact of Black Hawk helicopters.
The representative explained that constituents have directly expressed feelings of trauma and anxiety related to these enforcement activities. She argued that the very agency designed to protect against domestic terrorism has, in her view, become a source of terror itself.
These strong accusations come at a time when federal law enforcement officials are facing a dramatic surge in threats. DHS reports an 800% increase in death threats and a tenfold rise in assaults against its personnel.
Ramirez also revealed personal connections to the issue, stating that half of her family members are currently undocumented residents within the United States. She has previously expressed a strong sense of identification with her Guatemalan heritage, stating she identifies as Guatemalan before American.
Her perspective, shaped by both personal experience and constituent concerns, presents a powerful and uncompromising critique of current immigration policies and enforcement practices.
