For immediate distribution: 17 June 2021
Contact: Jossie Flor Sapunar

Washington, D.C. – Today, directly impacted individuals and members of the We Are Home campaign, including CASA Member Monica Camacho Perez, participated in a roundtable discussion with Cedric Richmond, former Congressman and now Senior Advisor to the President of the United States and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, to express the importance of citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

The roundtable, which included TPS holders and DACA recipients, comes during the ninth anniversary of DACA, a program that has benefitted hundreds of thousands of young immigrants, but that remains under threat. The meeting marks the third time that the new administration has listened to the stories of directly impacted individuals in the White House.

“I have been fighting for immigrant rights for decades. Even before working with Baltimore City Public Schools, I was a teen marching, fasting, and meeting with elected officials for change. As a DACA holder, I am proud that a President we elected is fighting for us. I am leaving the meeting with the White House knowing that he cannot leave my undocumented parents and others, like TPS holders behind. That’s why I will keep fasting, through the #WeAreEssential Fast for Freedom, and marching, especially at next week’s June 24 major #WeCantWait rally, until immigrants get the relief we need. I thank the President for introducing a bill that would include millions of people. Now what we need is for the White House to work with Congressional leaders to make it a reality.”

A day after the Baltimore City school year ended, Monica Camacho Perez traveled to DC for a three day fast through the Fast for Freedom, to push for citizenship for all through reconciliation. She joins fellow Baltimorean and DACA holder Missael Garcia, who also works in the public school system as well as poet, Dreamer, and Afrolatina Morelys Urbano, incoming freshman at Morgan State University from Prince George’s County. All are available for interviews.