This past weekend, Florida state Senator Darren Soto became the second elected official this month to meet with immigrant families as part of the “DAPA Dinners” campaign.
Senator Soto — who represents Florida’s 14 District in the state Senate — sat down to break bread with five immigrant families to discuss how implementation of DAPA and expanded DACA would impact lives of immigrants in Florida and around the nation.
“Yesterday will be remembered forever by those who shared their Sunday dinner with Senator Soto,” said Daniel Barajas, Executive Director of Young American Dreamers, said of the immigrant families, who began the “DAPA Dinner” with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
“He reminded them that they have not been forgotten while living in the shadows. He showed that they are important and renewed his commitment to fight for them and their families.”
Comienza la cena con @SenDarrenSoto y familias de YAD #DAPAdinner pic.twitter.com/J0VFtosLLS
— Y.A.D. – Florida (@YAD52110) April 10, 2016
Veronica & Fermin shared w @SenDarrenSoto their kids’ accomplishments & how #DAPA would benefit their family pic.twitter.com/ZcFE521iF6
— Y.A.D. – Florida (@YAD52110) April 10, 2016
Dinner is served. Families talk to @SenDarrenSoto about their #immigrant struggle #DAPAdinner #YADisMAD pic.twitter.com/I1XayVJWcC
— Y.A.D. – Florida (@YAD52110) April 10, 2016
Ashley 9 yrs old asks @SenDarrenSoto to help her parents stay with her and her brother #DAPAdinner #immigration pic.twitter.com/oGQvd0cXLI
— Y.A.D. – Florida (@YAD52110) April 10, 2016
“I’m going to do as much as I can to help protect DAPA” said @SenDarrenSoto to Ashley #immigration #DAPAdinner pic.twitter.com/9KXQX5kBvL
— Y.A.D. – Florida (@YAD52110) April 10, 2016
Hugo shared w/ @SenDarrenSoto his struggle and fear to be separated from his kids if DAPA is stopped #immigration pic.twitter.com/YR0spyLHp0
— Y.A.D. – Florida (@YAD52110) April 10, 2016
#YAD delivers Certificate of Appreciation to @SenDarrenSoto for always standing up for immigrant families pic.twitter.com/2irXW30MWy
— Y.A.D. – Florida (@YAD52110) April 10, 2016
“Our dinner was filled with stories of hope, opportunity, hard work, and family unity,” said Senator Soto. “It is for these reasons we must protect the DAPA and DACA programs.”
Approximately 229,000 Florida immigrants would be eligible for deportation deferral, work permits, and state driver’s licenses under the immigration programs announced by President Obama in 2014.
Now, the fate of these policies—and the fate of thousands of families like these—will be decided by the Supreme Court in June.
This was the latest in a series of meetings between politicians and DAPA-eligible families. To learn more about the DAPA Dinners campaign and other candidates who have participated click here.
