Earlier this week, Rep. Ruben Gallego became the latest elected official to sit down for a meal with a DAPA-eligble family for DAPA Dinner, a new campaign organized by America’s Voice, CCCA/FIRM, and United We Dream Action.
Felipa and Rodolfo are 2 of my constituents who would qualify 4 #DAPA relief. Looking fwd 2 hearing more of their story tonight. #DAPADinner
— Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) November 23, 2015
A family of 7 will join me @ tonight’s #DAPAdinner, but many more in #AZ07 need relief & security DAPA would provide pic.twitter.com/4Xgvw0cEKG
— Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) November 23, 2015
Rep. Gallego met with Neighborhood Ministries, Mi Familia Vota and the Solorio family of Phoenix, Arizona for a traditional meal and to hear how DAPA and expanded DACA would personally impact their family.
Felipa and Rodolfo Solorio and their five children—Alex, Adolfo, Guadalupe, Sherlyn and Aldo—are longtime Arizona residents and Phoenix community members.
Despite living and working in the U.S. since 2003, and being the parents of U.S. citizen children, Felipa and Rodolfo live in constant fear of deportation. Alex and Adolfo Solorio are DACA-mented students and the whole family is heavily involved in the community as active volunteers with Neighborhood Ministries.
“DAPA would help us so much,” the family’s matriarch tells Rep. Gallego in a Spanish-language clip. “And not just us, but many of our friends. There are many, many families.”
“I have a three year old,” Felipa continues. “It would be traumatic for him to be separated from his siblings.”
“[DAPA] would help me, and my community. It would let me help my community,” Felipa adds.
Rep. Gallego reiterated his stance of keeping families together, and said the DACA program allowed for many in the community to be productive members by going to school, pursuing careers, and starting new businesses, while DAPA — currently on hold due to a partisan lawsuit — could do the same for many more.
“DAPA Dinners” is a new initiative that invites all 2016 candidates, Senators, and Members of Congress to join an immigrant family for dinner on or around the one-year anniversary of the DAPA announcement on November 20, 2015.
Earlier this month, Presidential candidate Martin O’Malley became the first candidate to sit down with a DAPA-eligible family, with Senator Dick Durbin sitting down with a DAPA family just days later as well. For video documenting Martin O’Malley’s dinner with the Ramirez family, click here.
Thank you to the Solorio family for inviting me to dinner last night and for sharing your story with me. #DAPADinner pic.twitter.com/sd66HRsTDW
— Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) November 24, 2015
We need #DAPA so families like the Solorios can stay together, stay engaged in their communities, & live w/o fear. pic.twitter.com/waH7W3EDW7 — Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) November 24, 2015
