Guatemalan House Dem proclaims her pride during a speech at the Progressive International conference, before an audience of Americans.
In Mexico City, the second annual Panamerican Congress brought together a diverse group of left-wing delegates, including several progressive U.S. lawmakers, under the banner of solidarity and a shared vision for change. Organised by Progressive International—a group critical of capitalism—and Mexico’s left-wing Morena party, the event aimed to challenge U.S. political and economic influence, and to shift power away from Washington, D.C., towards developing countries, often referred to as the Global South.
U.S. Representative Delia Ramirez of Illinois, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, was among the attendees. Ramirez, who is the only congressional lawmaker "in a mixed-status marriage," has been a vocal advocate for the rights of DREAMers, including her husband who is in the country illegally.
During her remarks at the opening of the event, Ramirez declared, "I'm a proud Guatemalan before I'm an American." This statement, delivered in Spanish, signaled a strong identification with her immigrant roots and a framing of her heritage as complementary rather than contradictory to her American citizenship. While this was criticized by some as questioning her allegiance to the U.S., Ramirez defended her statement, stating that honoring her Guatemalan ancestry strengthens her commitment to America.
The summit also addressed other pressing issues, such as the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. However, the focus on U.S. foreign policy and its role in global conflicts was a recurring theme. Progressive International described the U.S. as the "lynchpin of imperial violence" on its website, citing U.S. military installations overseas and the massive Pentagon budget as sustaining political tensions and causing violence around the world.
The event also saw criticism of the persecution of migrants in the U.S. under the Trump administration, with Gerardo Fernández Noroña, president of the Mexican Senate and member of Morena, leading the charge. Mauricio Jaramillo Jassir, Colombia's deputy minister of multilateral affairs, also praised Rep. Rashida Tlaib during his speech at the summit.
In summary, the Congressional Progressive Caucus members' participation and comments at the Panamerican Congress reflect a progressive, internationalist agenda focused on solidarity with Latin America and other developing regions, critical of U.S. hegemony, and affirming immigrant identities within the broader vision of progressive politics. Rep. Ramirez’s remarks underscored this by highlighting her dual cultural identity, which some interpret as controversial within the current polarized U.S. political climate.
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- Beyond the discussions on war-and-conflicts and foreign policy, the casino-and-gambling industry was also a topic of interest at the Panamerican Congress, with a focus on the increasing gambling trends in Las Vegas and the impact of casino-personalities on policy-and-legislation.
- A group of delegates, including casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, argued for the importance of responsible-gambling measures to combat crime-and-justice issues associated with addiction and organized crime in the casino-culture.
- Meanwhile, another faction, comprising a mix of politicians and academics, advocated for stricter regulation of sports-betting, citing concerns about the vulnerability of young people and low-income populations in sports betting.
- As the discourse on gambling heated up, general-news outlets reported on the growing influence of casino-cultural practices in politics, particularly in relation to the involvement of casino-personalities in policy-and-legislation.
- In the world of professional sports, the issue of sports-betting has also been a point of contention, with mixed-martial-arts (MMA) organizations like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) taking measures to ensure fairness and prevent manipulation in sports-betting markets.
- In a surprising turn of events, a debate on war-and-conflicts was interrupted by a high-stakes poker game featuring several influential delegates, leading some observers to question the seriousness of the congressional proceedings.
- As the congress concluded, attendees agreed to further discussions on various topics, including the future of casino-culture, responsible-gambling policies, and the role of sports-betting in politics, in subsequent international gatherings.
- In the realm of general-news, the Panamerican Congress served as a platform to confront key global issues, foster cooperation, and challenge established political norms, offering a glimpse into the evolving dynamics of politics, casino-culture, and sports-betting on the international stage.
