The public hears a lot about the millions of illegal immigrants “living in the shadows,” and almost all of the talk comes from illegal immigrants themselves, some of whom have built careers on documenting their experience being undocumented.
On Monday night, the Democrats found some of those DREAMers lurking in the shadows and put them in the spotlight at their convention. But how, exactly, does one come out of the shadows while simultaneously building a name as the country’s most famous illegal?
Astrid Silva, 28yo undocumented immigrant from Mexico, to step out of shadows into spotlight @NBCNightlyNews pic.twitter.com/rdXMatJimQ
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) July 25, 2016
.@Astrid_NV, country's most famous DREAMer. pic.twitter.com/WqKrXJuRDN
— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) July 26, 2016
This 28-yr-old undocumented woman is coming out of the shadows at the #DemConvention tonight https://t.co/pxkrSU09sL pic.twitter.com/QNBNupODyu
— Splinter (@splinter_news) July 25, 2016
It looks like living in the shadows hasn’t had much of an influence on her activism.
Meet Astrid Silva, speaking now at the Democratic convention. Live updates: https://t.co/FUdsouIXqm pic.twitter.com/XqSgZ1piNc
— The Guardian (@guardian) July 26, 2016
Astrid: "My family and I are here because of people like Sen. Harry Reid — mi abuelito — who put themselves in our shoes to help us."
— Megan Messerly (@meganmesserly) July 26, 2016
DREAMER Astrid Silva calls Harry Reid "Mi abuelito."
— Nick Riccardi (@NickRiccardi) July 26, 2016
Astrid: "My parents were afraid someone might discover I was undocumented.. we risked everything for American Dream" #iAmerica #DemsInPhilly
— SEIU (@SEIU) July 26, 2016
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Risked everything … except immigrating legally.
Democrats go radical left. Sign on stage says "No Human is illegal". So everyone can break immigration laws and it's ok?
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) July 26, 2016
Astrid Silva say during #DNCinPHL she fears grandparents will be deported. Odds are it's highly unlikely she has anything to worry about.
— Brendan Kirby (@BrendanKKirby) July 26, 2016
Can't wait hear dreamer Astrid Silva speak tonight at the #DemConvention Her fearlessness inspires me. #DemsInPhilly pic.twitter.com/4oTMbCeAMa
— Mary Kay Henry (@MaryKayHenry) July 25, 2016
So not only did Astrid Silva emerge from the shadows as America’s most famous DREAMer, she’s also fearless and yet is afraid her family will be deported.
Seriously, the DNC is right now featuring illegal aliens. In its conventions. Pitching its candidate to Americans. (Hint there: Americans.)
— Joseph Curl ❎ (@josephcurl) July 26, 2016
More precisely, the DNC is featuring the sweet, innocent children of illegal aliens. Also featured in the spotlight was Karla Ortiz, whom Abuela Hillary granted her personal protection during a totally spontaneous, unscripted moment at a town hall in Nevada that soon made it to the campaign’s YouTube account, putting Ortiz’s family at even greater risk of being identified and deported.
https://twitter.com/ra_dical/status/757727893682204672
When @HillaryClinton said "c'mere baby" in Nevada it was one of most emotional moments of campaign. Karla Ortiz is one of us. #DemConvention
— Tom Watson (@tomwatson) July 26, 2016
Democrat conventions usually don't start exploiting kids until the second night. So this is new #DemsInPhilly
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) July 26, 2016
"Even when I was little, my parents were always crying, but I didn't understand why," Karla Ortiz, set to deliver a tear-jerker.
— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) July 26, 2016
Karla Ortiz, whose parents are undocumented: "I'm scared that at any moment, my mom and dad will be forced to leave" pic.twitter.com/ro3Tciteyz
— POLITICO (@politico) July 26, 2016
Scared enough to stay off of national TV scared or not that level of scared? https://t.co/J1Vq3AO9Uu
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) July 26, 2016
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