Earlier today, Sen. Tim Kaine met an immigrant family as part of the ongoing “DAPA Dinners” campaign.
Appreciate the Orellana family of Arlington sharing their story with me about how they stand to benefit from #DACA #DAPA #FightForFamilies
— Senator Tim Kaine (@timkaine) April 15, 2016
We are a nation of immigrants and our policies should bring families together, not tear them apart #FightForFamilies pic.twitter.com/cX1cYfbmTy
— Senator Tim Kaine (@timkaine) April 15, 2016
The Orellana family, a mixed-status family originally from Bolivia, discussed with Sen. Kaine how DAPA and DACA+ — scheduled to go before the Supreme Court for oral arguments on Monday — would personally impact their family.
Wilson Orellana works at a company providing transportation for disabled Americans, while his wife Roxana Montano is an active community member who teaches Spanish to children and helps lead the Swanson Middle School PTA.
Their oldest daughter, Rebeca, is a civil engineering honors student at George Mason University.
In Virginia, some 91,000 undocumented immigrants would be eligible for DAPA and DACA+, including the Orellana family. If the Supreme Court lets DAPA and DACA+ go forward, families like the Orellana’s would be able to work legally and live free from the fear of deportation.
For the past few months, immigrant families all across the nation have been meeting with elected officials and candidates for office to stress the importance of these programs.
Sen. Kaine is the fourth sitting member of the Senate to participate in the “DAPA Dinners” campaign, following Sen. Harry Reid, Sen. Richard Durbin, and Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Muchas gracias a la familia Orellana de Arlington por compartir como beneficiarían de #DACA #DAPA #FamiliasUnidas pic.twitter.com/vsnUIeOQzK
— Senator Tim Kaine (@timkaine) April 15, 2016