When she was four years old, Daniela Pelaez emigrated with her parents from Colombia to the United States. They had visas. But when the visas expired, her parents decided to stay in the country and raise their children here illegally.
Fast forward a dozen years, and Daniela is now the valedictorian of her graduating class. Her GPA is 6.7. She plans to attend Dartmouth in the fall. But she’s still here illegally, and in February, a judge issued an order for Daniela to leave the country.
After petitions and public outcry, the Obama administration decided to defer action on the case for two years. But in the meantime, Daniela, with the help of her attorney Nera Shefer and congressman David Rivera (R-Fla.), is advocating for a bill to keep young, undocumented students in the country. The bill is called the Studying Towards Adjusted Residency Status Act, or STARS.
At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.
Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!