Bonamici Invites Oregon Dreamer to 2018 State of the Union

WASHINGTON, DC [01/26/18] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) announced that a Dreamer from NW Oregon will be joining her at the President's State of the Union Address on January 30.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has promised to bring up legislation to protect individuals brought the US as young children. Congresswoman Bonamici invited Miriam Vargas Corona, who was one of the first people in Oregon to apply for protections under DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).

"Dreamers have worked hard, pursued an education, and are making our communities better places to live," said Congresswoman Bonamici. "Turning our backs on them now is heartless, doesn't improve national security, and will have detrimental effects on our economy. Despite saying they want to help Dreamers, the Republican leadership in Congress has done nothing to enshrine protections in law. During the upcoming State of the Union Address, I am proud to stand by Dreamers like Miriam and hold the President and Republican leadership accountable to their promises to protect Dreamers from deportation."

Vargas Corona was brought by her parents to the United States as 9-month-old infant and raised in rural Oregon. She is a graduate of Linfield College in McMinnville, where she currently lives with her husband and seven-year-old son. Vargas Corona works full time at Yamhill Community Care Organization helping residents access affordable health care. She also serves as a board member of Unidos Bridging Communities, a nonprofit aimed at enhancing understanding and support for Latino individuals and families in Yamhill County.

"I am honored to be invited by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici to the State of the Union and am tremendously thankful for her dedicated advocacy to represent the voices of Dreamers," said Miriam Vargas Corona. "DACA has profoundly changed the course of my life and has facilitated the start of my professional career after completing my degree. Without DACA, I would be forced to leave my employment and would not be able to continue to help sustain my family's basic needs and be a contributing taxpayer for the government assistance safety net programs such as the one that I personally work for.

Vargas Corona continued, "Not having protection against deportation is terrifying. Being forced to plan for a potential separation from my child and husband is something that I do not wish for any parent. It is deeply heartbreaking to mentally prepare yourself to not see your child grow up and be there for all his defining milestones. Ending DACA means that parents are in danger of being deported and professionals like myself who serve our community's most vulnerable persons will lose their jobs. We will lose eligibility to have private health care benefits for ourselves and our families, and the taxes we pay will be a loss of revenue for our country's safety net programs."

Bonamici has been a steadfast supporter of the DACA program and advocated for comprehensive immigration reform. She is a cosponsor of the Dream Act, commonsense bipartisan legislation to create a pathway for Dreamers to become permanent residents. Last year, in response to increasingly aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities, Bonamici introduced legislation to prohibit immigration enforcement actions at sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals, courthouses, and other locations that provide emergency services.

###