The young immigrants whose lives continue to remain in limbo due to Donald Trump’s racist immigration policies will be facing him Tuesday night. Congressional Democrats have invited at least a dozen Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients as their guests to his State of the Union address, where they hope to make the case for permanent protections not just for themselves, but for millions of other immigrant families.
Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas has invited Senaida Navar, a DACA recipient and adjunct instructor at the University of Texas at El Paso, as her guest. "Senaida,” the Congresswoman said, “is the epitome of the American Dream. She has dedicated her life to advancing immigrant rights and preparing our next generation of leaders, all while experiencing family separation created by our broken immigration system and uncertainty as a DACA recipient."
California Rep. Gil Cisneros, another Democrat who was swept into office in last year’s historic midterm election, has invited Miriam Tellez, a California State University, Fullerton student, as his guest. “So many other DREAMers and DACA students like me want nothing more than the opportunity to give back to our communities and country,” Tellez said. “We cannot forget the faces of those for which the administration and Congress' actions will have real consequences.”
Jin Park knows these consequences all too well. While the Harvard graduate won the prestigious Rhodes scholarship, furthering his education could cost him his future here. Because Trump ended a provision that allowed DACA recipients to leave the U.S. for educational opportunities and family emergencies, Park is unsure he’ll be able to come back after studying in England. Park will be at Tuesday’s address as a guest of New York Rep. Grace Meng.
“It is unconscionable,” she said, “that the President has put their hopes and dreams of a better future in jeopardy, and that includes Jin’s fate as well.”
DACA recipients from all over the U.S. will have their chance to share their stories as guests of other Democrats. In Florida, a Florida International University graduate student will be a guest of Rep. Donna Shalala. “I am pleased to welcome Edwin Herrera as my guest,” she said. “After learning of Edwin’s story and all that he has overcome, I wanted to invite him because his story is what’s hopeful about the American Dream.”
In Arizona, Rep. Greg Stanton has invited Ellie Perez as his guest. The 28-year-old grew up in the state but struggled to finish college because she had to pay out-of-state tuition rates. Perez said DACA recipients “by every definition of the word are Americans” deserving of a chance to stay in the only country they’ve ever known as home. “The only difference between me and his children,” she said about Trump, “is that I was born on the wrong side of the border."
Reps. Joaquin Castro of Texas, Joe Neguse of Colorado, and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts join California representatives Lou Correa, Mike Levin, Doris Matsui, Lucille Roybal-Allard, and Linda Sánchez in inviting immigrant youth as their guests. These DACA recipients will join a number of other immigrants, including former Trump housekeeper Victorina Morales and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipient Linda Clark, to show the true faces of America’s immigrants, not whatever twisted lie Trump will make up when he steps up to the podium Tuesday night. “Linda is exactly the type of American success story we should celebrate,” Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar said.
“I probably wouldn’t get too political, but I would share my story," Ivan Hernandez says he would tell Trump if he got a chance to talk to him face-to-face. The Illinois DACA recipient will be a guest of Rep. Brad Schneider. "We wanted a better future and we’re working hard for it. We’re not criminals. We just want better opportunities."