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| Undocumented woman Benita Veliz makes Dream Act speech to DNC | Undocumented woman Benita Veliz makes Dream Act speech to DNC |
| (30 days later) | |
| Benita Veliz, a young Hispanic "Dreamer" from San Antonio in Texas, struck a blow for immigrant rights when she became the first undocumented person to address a national political convention. | Benita Veliz, a young Hispanic "Dreamer" from San Antonio in Texas, struck a blow for immigrant rights when she became the first undocumented person to address a national political convention. |
| Veliz – Benny to friends – openly and unashamedly proclaimed her unauthorised status in front of millions of American TV viewers. She told them she was brought to the US from Mexico as a child and has lived here ever since. | Veliz – Benny to friends – openly and unashamedly proclaimed her unauthorised status in front of millions of American TV viewers. She told them she was brought to the US from Mexico as a child and has lived here ever since. |
| She graduated at the top of her class aged 16 and went on to earn a double major four years later. "I know I have something to contribute to the economy and my country, and I feel just as American as any of my friends or neighbours." | She graduated at the top of her class aged 16 and went on to earn a double major four years later. "I know I have something to contribute to the economy and my country, and I feel just as American as any of my friends or neighbours." |
| In 2009 Veliz came close to being deported back to Mexico after she came into the Texas authorities' purview for a minor traffic violation. "I've had to live almost my entire life knowing I could be deported because of the way I came here," she told the convention. | In 2009 Veliz came close to being deported back to Mexico after she came into the Texas authorities' purview for a minor traffic violation. "I've had to live almost my entire life knowing I could be deported because of the way I came here," she told the convention. |
| Veliz is one of thousands of Hispanics aged 15 to 30 who will be able to take advantage of the executive order declared by President Obama in June. The deferred action order, dubbed "dream relief", will allow young undocumented immigrants to put off the threat of deportation for two years to allow them to pursue studies and work opportunities. | Veliz is one of thousands of Hispanics aged 15 to 30 who will be able to take advantage of the executive order declared by President Obama in June. The deferred action order, dubbed "dream relief", will allow young undocumented immigrants to put off the threat of deportation for two years to allow them to pursue studies and work opportunities. |
| "President Obama fought for the Dream Act to help people like me," said Velix, who is now studying at St Mary's university in San Antonio. "When Congress refused to support it, he didn't give up." | "President Obama fought for the Dream Act to help people like me," said Velix, who is now studying at St Mary's university in San Antonio. "When Congress refused to support it, he didn't give up." |
| Veliz's audacious appearance in front of millions of Americans is the most high-profile example yet of a growing determination on the part of young undocumented Hispanics to come out of the shadows and announce themselves as a proud part of the American family. Some 11 million people are living in America without permission, about 60% of whom are of Mexican origin. | Veliz's audacious appearance in front of millions of Americans is the most high-profile example yet of a growing determination on the part of young undocumented Hispanics to come out of the shadows and announce themselves as a proud part of the American family. Some 11 million people are living in America without permission, about 60% of whom are of Mexican origin. |
| Her address is the second time in two days that the Texan city of San Antonio, the seventh most populous city in the US, was put on the map at the convention. On Tuesday the city's mayor, Julian Castro, delivered the keynote speech. | Her address is the second time in two days that the Texan city of San Antonio, the seventh most populous city in the US, was put on the map at the convention. On Tuesday the city's mayor, Julian Castro, delivered the keynote speech. |
| The euphoria among immigrant groups surrounding Veliz's address was dampened a little by news out of Arizona that broke just a couple of hours earlier. A federal judge gave the green light to the most controversial part of the notorious SB 1070 law – the clause dubbed the "show me your papers" provision – that instructs police to investigate the immigration status of anyone they deem suspicious of being undocumented who they come across in the course of other policing matters. | The euphoria among immigrant groups surrounding Veliz's address was dampened a little by news out of Arizona that broke just a couple of hours earlier. A federal judge gave the green light to the most controversial part of the notorious SB 1070 law – the clause dubbed the "show me your papers" provision – that instructs police to investigate the immigration status of anyone they deem suspicious of being undocumented who they come across in the course of other policing matters. |
| SB 1070 was signed into law in 2010 but quickly put on ice following legal challenges that pushed the law up to the US supreme court. It unleashed a storm of hostile measures directed against undocumented immigrants that swept across Southern legislatures. | SB 1070 was signed into law in 2010 but quickly put on ice following legal challenges that pushed the law up to the US supreme court. It unleashed a storm of hostile measures directed against undocumented immigrants that swept across Southern legislatures. |
| Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and Utah all scrambled to follow Arizona's example. In turn, those anti-illegal immigration laws provided the inspiration for Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential challenger, who advocated the "self-deportation" of millions of people. | Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and Utah all scrambled to follow Arizona's example. In turn, those anti-illegal immigration laws provided the inspiration for Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential challenger, who advocated the "self-deportation" of millions of people. |
| It is not known precisely when the "show me your papers" law will now come into effect in Arizona, but it is expected to be within the next two weeks. When SB 1070 was first introduced it led to virtual panic among unauthorised Hispanic families, with thousands fleeing the state. | It is not known precisely when the "show me your papers" law will now come into effect in Arizona, but it is expected to be within the next two weeks. When SB 1070 was first introduced it led to virtual panic among unauthorised Hispanic families, with thousands fleeing the state. |
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