His parents were from
Mexico, coming here for a better life for their kids. His parents were
hardworking, getting odd jobs, blue-collar workers, really trying to
make it. Now, Roque is a beneficiary of DACA. He is a DREAMer; somebody who
was looking forward to going to college, was able to go to undergrad
and even go to graduate school, where he studied education. He is one
of the many faces of DREAMers whom our country has benefited from DACA. As a teacher, he helps other students who are struggling in math. He is
a sixth grade teacher who looks into the eyes of kids who dream big,
who want to make it, and he instills in them some hope. Tonight, Roque will be up in this gallery for the first time, looking
down on a President who has been demeaning immigrants, who hasn't seen
the value of what immigrants provide to this country. Now, this is very personal for me. My parents are also immigrants
from Mexico. They came here because they wanted a better life for their
kids. And I beat the odds. I got a piece of the American Dream, and now
I fight for those to make sure that others have the same opportunity. Roque has been spared from the deportations. He is an example of
immigrants that continue to contribute to our country. He also sits on
the Wilmington Neighborhood Council, where he provides input and is
active in the community. Because of DACA, hundreds of kids are
benefiting from him being a teacher. I believe we continue to need comprehensive immigration reform to fix
our broken immigration system. It is the best answer. Until then, I am
going to continue to fight to protect hardworking families and
immigrants who continue to provide value, DREAMers like Roque, who only
know the United States as their home. He is American in every way.
Keywords matched
immigration immigrants deportations DACA