Kids of deported woman to attend State of the Union with Arizona congressmen
Feb 24, 2017, 10:43 AM | Updated: 1:23 pm
In this Thursday Feb. 9, 2017, photo, the family of Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos stands behind her attorney, Ray Ybarra Maldonado, as he speaks in front of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Phoenix. Garcia de Rayos was deported Thursday Feb. 9, 2017, after protests. The advocates say she is among the first immigrants to be deported under new policies by President Donald Trump as he cracks down on illegal immigration (AP Photo/Astrid Galvan)
(AP Photo/Astrid Galvan)
PHOENIX — The children of a recently deported undocumented woman will attend next week’s State of the Union address as the guests of two Arizona congressmen, it was announced Friday.
In a press release, Democratic Reps. Ruben Gallego and Raul Grijalva said they look forward to welcoming the children of Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, who was deported earlier this month following a routine immigration check-in.
Gallego said the invitation is intended to put a face to those affected by the broadened deportation policies of President Donald Trump.
“Congressman Grijalva and I invited Angel (Garcia de Rayos) and his sister Jaqueline (Garcia de Rayos) to the address because we believe it is important for Donald Trump to face the people who have been victimized by his disastrous policies,” he said in the release.
Grijalva said both teenagers have been vocal critics of Trump’s policies and serve as an inspiration to a frightened immigrant community.
“Their example is a bright light of hope for immigrant communities across this country who are fearful that Trump will come for them next,” he said. “Their fight is all of our fight, and I am proud to stand side-by-side with them in opposition to these atrocious policies.”
De Rayos — who was found guilty of identity theft in 2008 but allowed to remain in the United States under former President Barack Obama’s immigration policies — was sent to Nogales, Sonora.
She said she knew Trump’s executive order could affect her, but she did not try to hide.
De Rayos also encouraged other families to speak out and send a message to Trump that deportations are not only hurting immigrants, but they are hurting their children too.
