Ramirez to Join Bicameral Congressional Delegation Visit to Guatemala and Honduras to Discuss Democracy, Stability, Migration, Economic Growth, and Security

Washington, DC – Later this week, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Vice Ranking Member of the Homeland Security House Committee, will join U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) on a congressional delegation visiting Guatemala and Honduras to meet with elected officials, the private sector, and civil society leaders. Ramirez will be also joined by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Laphonza Butler (D-CA) and U.S. Representative Norma Torres (D-CA-35). 

During their meetings, the lawmakers will discuss strategies to strengthen prosperity and security in the region and underscore the importance of democratic governance and the rule of law. Maintaining democracy and political stability in Central America is critical for U.S. national security.

The congressional delegation’s visit to Guatemala comes at a critical moment for the country’s democracy amid ongoing protests following provocative actions by the Public Ministry (Guatemala’s justice department), including the raiding of facilities holding electoral materials, opening of ballot boxes, and intimidation of peaceful protestors, among other brazen acts. The Public Ministry has also filed spurious charges against President-elect Bernardo Arevalo, Vice President-Elect Karin Herrera, and other officials and attempted to strip them of their pre-trial immunity. While President Alejandro Giammattei has publicly acknowledged Arevalo’s electoral victory, the Public Ministry continues to systematically attempt to undermine the electoral transition and engage in targeted investigations against the president-elect's political party and other democracy defenders.

Back in November, Congresswoman Ramirez expressed disapproval of these actions, saying: “¡El pueblo de Guatemala habló! The current efforts from the attorney general and government institutions to overturn a rightful and democratic election are a serious threat to Guatemalan's democracy. La elección del pueblo debe prevalecer.”

In April, Ramirez, Kaine, Durbin, and Torres called on the Biden Administration to redesignate Honduras for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)to continue protecting Hondurans.