WASHINGTON – Rep. Greg Stanton today announced that DACA recipient Ellie Perez will join him as his guest at Tuesday’s State of the Union Address. Each year, members of Congress are permitted one guest to attend the event.
Perez was born in Veracruz, Mexico and immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of four. In 2013, she became one of the hundreds of thousands of young adults to benefit from the Deferred Action for Early Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. As a DACA recipient, she graduated from Arizona State University while working full time, and became the first DREAMer employed by the City of Phoenix. Most recently, she served Stanton’s campaign as political and field director.
However, because of her status as a DACA recipient, Perez is not permitted to work for the U.S. House of Representatives and her long-term goals are threatened by Congress’s inability to pass bipartisan, meaningful immigration reform.
“I’ve known Ellie for several years and am constantly inspired by her passion for serving our community,” said Stanton. “Ellie is a reminder to all of us in Congress – and to President Trump – that our nation will be stronger when we pass immigration reform that fully embraces DREAMers as Americans.”
Earlier this month, Stanton co-sponsored the American Dream Employment Act, which would allow DACA beneficiaries to work as staff members in Congress. The Act was introduced by Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick.
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