Republican legislator advocates for removing Democratic member from committee role following her statement expressing Guatemalan pride over American citizenship
In a series of recent events, two Democratic representatives, LaMonica McIver and Delia Ramirez, have found themselves at the centre of a political storm. The controversial resolutions, introduced by Republican Reps. Clay Higgins and Carlos Gimenez, aim to censure McIver and remove both her and Ramirez from the House Homeland Security Committee.
The resolution against McIver stems from federal charges accusing her of assaulting and interfering with immigration officers outside a New Jersey detention centre during a congressional oversight visit. McIver has pleaded not guilty to these charges and vowed to fight them. The incident has sparked controversy, with Democrats, including Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Bob Menendez, who were present at the detention centre, criticising her arrest and disputing the charges.
Ramirez, on the other hand, has been targeted for her progressive stance on the Committee on Homeland Security. Gimenez views her conduct as "unbecoming of any member of Congress." Ramirez, however, sees this as a misinterpretation of her pride in her Guatemalan heritage. She compared her pride in her ancestry to that of her white colleagues who identify with theirs, stating, "I am a proud Guatemalan before I am an American." Ramirez argued that her statement is not a rejection of her American citizenship, but rather a celebration of her cultural background.
The resolution against Ramirez is privileged, meaning it will receive a full vote in the House once lawmakers return in September. The resolution against McIver, H.Res.539, introduced by Rep. Higgins, is currently at the "introduced" stage without further action taken. As of early August 2025, the efforts to remove these Democratic members remain proposals with no committee or House action concluding their removal from the Homeland Security Committee.
Gimenez, born in Cuba and exiled from his homeland shortly after the Communist takeover, has been a vocal critic of Ramirez's stance on immigration issues. Ramirez, in response to the resolution, stated that she "saw this coming."
The Newark detention centre, a privately owned, 1,000-bed facility used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has been a point of contention for both Ramirez and McIver. Ramirez has criticised Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for violating civil rights and undermining the Constitution.
The situation remains fluid, with the resolutions' futures uncertain. The coming months will likely see further developments as the resolutions make their way through the House.
[1] Congress.gov. (2025). H.Res.539 - Censuring Representative LaMonica McIver. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-resolution/539 [2] Congress.gov. (2025). H.Res.600 - Electing Members of Standing Committees. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-resolution/600 [3] Rep. Clay Higgins. (2025). Sponsored Legislation. Retrieved from https://higgins.house.gov/legislation [4] AP News. (2025). House Homeland Security Committee assignments addressed in resolution. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/house-homeland-security-committee-1b7864069c8b2b0865f39e46f769756c
- The controversy surrounding Representative LaMonica McIver's actions at a Newark detention center, encapsulated in the proposed resolution H.Res.539, is currently at the 'introduced' stage, with no further action taken.
- The resolution aiming to remove Representative Delia Ramirez from the House Homeland Security Committee, H.Res.600, is a privileged resolution, meaning it will receive a full vote in the House once lawmakers return in September.
- The ongoing political storm involving Democratic representatives LaMonica McIver and Delia Ramirez, instigated by resolutions introduced by Republican Reps. Clay Higgins and Carlos Gimenez, has been accompanied by general news coverage and discussions on crime, justice, and immigration.
- The situation at the Newark detention center, a point of contention for both McIver and Ramirez, has also sparked debates on policy, legislation, and human rights, with Ramirez accusing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of violating civil rights and undermining the Constitution.
