Guest Post: DREAM Act Student Made Us Proud
By State Representative Pete Gallego
San Antonio resident and DREAM Act student Benita Veliz made us all proud when she shared her story of struggle and inspiration with the country. Ms. Veliz, who was brought to this country by her parents when she was only eight years old, last week became the first DREAM Act student to address a national political convention.
At only 16, Benita graduated from San Antonio’s Jefferson High School as valedictorian. She was a National Merit Scholar and attended St. Mary’s University on a full scholarship, where she double majored in biology and sociology. Outside of the classroom, Benita continued to give back to her community by inspiring other students to continue to pursue an education.
Despite her dedication, Benita could not join the workforce and fully contribute to this country. And she lived under the constant fear that any minute she could be deported.
Stories like Benita’s are a reminder of just why we need the federal DREAM Act. The DREAM Act would allow young people like Benita, who were brought here as children by their parents and have stayed out of trouble to earn citizenship if they go to college or join the military. The DREAM Act is the right thing to do.
But extremists in Congress have blocked the DREAM Act from becoming a reality, and for too long held captives the futures of many kids in our community.
And while not a permanent solution, the new Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy is an important step forward. DACA protects model students kids like Benita from deportation and lets them apply for work permits so that their lives are not on hold until Congress passes the DREAM Act.
Estimates show that 226,700 young people in Texas and around 6,000 young students in Congressional District 23 will benefit from the deferred action. The lives of more than 200,000 young people in Texas will be made better off.
If Quico Canseco had his way, stories like Benita’s would not be possible.
Congressman Quico Canseco and his extremist colleagues stand against Benita and kids like her by standing against the DREAM Act. Quico applauded Sen. John Cornyn for voting against the DREAM Act saying that the bill “elevated illegal aliens.” Canseco has even remained silent on the deferred action policy even though it would help more than 6,000 kids in the district.
We can’t let kids continue to be the casualties of Quico's partisan pandering.
Every parent knows that nothing should be more precious than a child's future. In Congress, I will stand up for kids like Benita and push for the federal DREAM Act.
Ms. Veliz is an inspiration to all young people. I congratulate her on her triumph over many adversities. She has made herself an asset to our state and our country. She is a child any parent would be proud to call their own. She embodies the American dream.
A native of Alpine, Pete Gallego has represented the people of House District 74 in the Texas House of Representatives for twenty two years. He is currently running to represent District 23 in the U.S. Congress.
At only 16, Benita graduated from San Antonio’s Jefferson High School as valedictorian. She was a National Merit Scholar and attended St. Mary’s University on a full scholarship, where she double majored in biology and sociology. Outside of the classroom, Benita continued to give back to her community by inspiring other students to continue to pursue an education.
Despite her dedication, Benita could not join the workforce and fully contribute to this country. And she lived under the constant fear that any minute she could be deported.
Stories like Benita’s are a reminder of just why we need the federal DREAM Act. The DREAM Act would allow young people like Benita, who were brought here as children by their parents and have stayed out of trouble to earn citizenship if they go to college or join the military. The DREAM Act is the right thing to do.
But extremists in Congress have blocked the DREAM Act from becoming a reality, and for too long held captives the futures of many kids in our community.
And while not a permanent solution, the new Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy is an important step forward. DACA protects model students kids like Benita from deportation and lets them apply for work permits so that their lives are not on hold until Congress passes the DREAM Act.
Estimates show that 226,700 young people in Texas and around 6,000 young students in Congressional District 23 will benefit from the deferred action. The lives of more than 200,000 young people in Texas will be made better off.
If Quico Canseco had his way, stories like Benita’s would not be possible.
Congressman Quico Canseco and his extremist colleagues stand against Benita and kids like her by standing against the DREAM Act. Quico applauded Sen. John Cornyn for voting against the DREAM Act saying that the bill “elevated illegal aliens.” Canseco has even remained silent on the deferred action policy even though it would help more than 6,000 kids in the district.
We can’t let kids continue to be the casualties of Quico's partisan pandering.
Every parent knows that nothing should be more precious than a child's future. In Congress, I will stand up for kids like Benita and push for the federal DREAM Act.
Ms. Veliz is an inspiration to all young people. I congratulate her on her triumph over many adversities. She has made herself an asset to our state and our country. She is a child any parent would be proud to call their own. She embodies the American dream.
A native of Alpine, Pete Gallego has represented the people of House District 74 in the Texas House of Representatives for twenty two years. He is currently running to represent District 23 in the U.S. Congress.
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