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LIVEBLOG: The 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia

by America’s Voice Online on

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Thursday, 11:00 PM EST:

Personal stories of immigrants and immigrant families were among the most powerful and quintessentially American moments of the Democratic convention, culminating from testimony from DREAMer Lorella Praeli and Khizr Khan, whose son Humayun was a captain in the U.S. Army and was killed in Iraq.

“When I think about our American story, I believe it was born in the hearts of my parents that night as they stood over my hospital bed,” said Lorella. “Back in Peru, my mother, Chela, was a psychologist. But here in America, she’s worked cleaning houses for the last 17 years, from morning to night, carrying the American spirit in her heart.”

“She, like so many millions of parents across this country, worked so that my sister and I could have a full life. She has taught me to never give up, to believe in my dreams, and to fight to achieve them. In short, it was my undocumented mother that taught me what it is to be an American.”

Mr. Khan described how his family came to the United States, “empty handed” with a belief in American democracy. “If it was up to Donald Trump, [Humayun] never would have been in America.”

“Donald Trump consistently smears the character of Muslims. He disrespects other minorities, women, judges, even his own party leadership. He vows to build walls and ban us from this country.

Have you [Trump] ever been to Arlington Cemetery? Go look at the graves of the brave patriots who died defending America — you will see all faiths, genders, and ethnicities. You have sacrificed nothing. And no one.

We cannot solve our problems by building walls, or sowing division. We are better together.”

Watch the speeches from Lorella and Mr. Khan here.

11:00AM EST:

We visited the Trump Museum so you didn’t have to.

Trump hands

Wednesday, 11:00PM EST:

Night three of the Democratic National Convention featured the leading elected figures in the movement for immigration reform, including Gov. Martin O’Malley. Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Ruben Gallego, and a tribute to Sen. Harry Reid, who is retiring at the end of his term early next year.

The evening ended with a speech from President Barack Obama, who offered soaring, optimistic praise of the American Promise, in start contrast to the doom-and-gloom vision of the Republican National Convention last  week.

6PM EST:

Maribel Hastings has published a host of new Spanish-language columns delving into the 2016 Presidential election, immigration reform, and Latino voters:

“¿Son viables las nuevas promesas de reforma migratoria?”

“DNC: ‘Bautizo’ político para los más jóvenes”

“Grietas en el festival demócrata de unidad”

“Obama y los Clinton: favor con favor se paga”

Wednesday, 9:30AM EST:

In a new column today, Maribel Hastings and David Torres talk to Latinos in Philadelphia who continue to wait for immigration reform. While undocumented immigrants remain frustrated with ongoing promises of legislation, the prospect of a Donald Trump Presidency poses a greater weight on their hearts. Read the Spanish-language column here.

Tuesday, 11:00PM EST:

Latino delegates and speakers had a prominent role in the historic second evening of the Democratic National Convention, where Hillary Clinton was formally nominated for President of the United States. The evening featured the all-Latino delegation from Puerto Rico, as well as actor and activist America Ferrera, who slammed Donald Trump and shared her own family’s immigration history.

“As a child of Honduran immigrants, I am profoundly grateful for the access and opportunity that exists in this extraordinary nation,” Ferrera opened.

“Donald’s not making America great again, he’s making America hate again. The vast majority of us cannot afford to see his vision of America come to be.”

12:30 PM EST:

Tuesday, 1:30PM EST:

In stark contrast to last week’s Republican National Convention, the opening night of the Democratic National Convention underscored a vision of an America that is strengthened by inclusiveness of all, including undocumented immigrants.

11-year-old Karla bravely addressed a primetime audience on what it’s like to be one of the estimated five million US citizen kids with at least one undocumented parent. Astrid Silva, a Nevada DREAMer, also spoke on a journey that has led her to become one of the immigration movement’s important voices.

As Frank Sharry said earlier today, “the decision to prominently feature undocumented immigrants and mixed status immigration families at the DNC gave America a window into the passion of millions of hard working immigrants yearning to be formally recognized by a nation they already call home.”

The link to a recap of the evening is available here, and the remarks from Karla and Astrid are below.

Monday, 2:00PM EST:

Journalist Maria Elena Salinas talks to Nevada DREAMer Astrid Silva and 10-year-old Karla Ortiz, both of whom are scheduled to address the Democratic National Convention tonight.

1:30PM EST:

12:30 PM EST:

9:30 AM EST:

A new Spanish-language column from Maribel Hastings on the history of the Democratic Party and immigration reform — and it’s implications in the 2016 Presidential election — is up now.

Monday, 8:30 AM EST:

Members of the America’s Voice team are in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

Immigration is expected to be a major topic throughout the week, with Nevada DREAMer Astrid Silva opening the convention as a headline speaker later today.

Karla Ortiz, a young US citizen girl who was recently featured in a Hillary Clinton video, will also address the event today. Karla’s mom is eligible for DAPA, and both are expected to speak about the urgent need for relief for immigrant families.

Check back here throughout the day and week for links to the latest blog posts and other immigration content from the DNC.