Maria Sotomayor, a 2013 Neumann graduate, was one of several Dreamers to meet with Cecilia Muñoz, Domestic Policy Director, at the White House in early December. Dreamers are young activists who grew up undocumented in America and who support immigration reform.

They gathered in Washington, D.C., to affirm President Obama’s executive action on immigration, which makes it possible for about 4-5 million people to apply for temporary protection from deportation for three years. The action, which the President took via executive action after Capitol Hill gridlock on the issue, also makes some changes to immigration enforcement and provides some measures for high-skilled workers.

After the meeting Sotomayor spoke to the media about the impact of President Obama's immigration announcement on her family. 

“When I found out about the announcement a couple of weeks ago and that my parents were able to apply for work authorization and have protection from deportation, it was one of the best days of my life,” she said. “It meant that my parents don’t have to suffer every single day, walking around, being a target.”

She is a community outreach organizer at the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition.