This Undocumented Immigrant Was Nominated to Join the Democratic Party

Ellie Pérez, a 26-year-old DREAMer, was nominated to join the Democratic Party as a delegate and she is the first undocumented immigrant to ever have this privilege. Being a national delegate of the Democratic Party comes with many responsibilities. However, one of the most incredible duties a DNC delegate has is to cast a vote for the party’s nominee at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. This would mean that in the history of the United States, an undocumented immigrant will have a say in who could possibly be the next president of America. So amazing!!

“It’s really exciting and a big responsibility,” Pérez said to Univision News. “This says a lot about the direction that the party is heading towards inclusion,” Pérez added. “Democrats still have a long way to go to introduce diversity into the conversation.”

According to various news outlets, Pérez is originally from Veracruz, Mexico, and moved to Arizona with her parents when she was just four years old. This DREAMer and politics all-star has been rising to the top ever since. As a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) beneficiary, Pérez began working for Phoenix City Councilwoman Kate Gallego as an advisor in 2012. She has also worked as a a page at the Philadelphia National Democratic Convention for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2016.

“I will be able to have a say in my national party, but I won’t be able to have a say in my local politics by casting a ballot,” Pérez  told Refinery29. “That’s something that really hurts, because I believe that I should be able to have say. I’m Mexican by birth, but I’m American by choice.”

Pérez is one of 75 new national delegates for the Democratic Party that will be chosen on Saturday in Las Vegas. This is the most diverse group they have ever as to join. Out of the 75, 17 are Latino.