Undocumented woman Benita Veliz makes Dream Act speech to DNC

Benita Veliz, a young Hispanic “Dreamer” from San Antonio in Texas, struck a blow for immigrant rights when she became the first undocumented person to address a national political convention.

Veliz – Benny to friends – openly and unashamedly proclaimed her unauthorised status in front of millions of American TV viewers. She told them she was brought to the US from Mexico as a child and has lived here ever since.

She graduated at the top of her class aged 16 and went on to earn a double major four years later. “I know I have something to contribute to the economy and my country, and I feel just as American as any of my friends or neighbours.”

In 2009 Veliz came close to being deported back to Mexico after she came into the Texas authorities’ purview for a minor traffic violation. “I’ve had to live almost my entire life knowing I could be deported because of the way I came here,” she told the convention.

Veliz is one of thousands of Hispanics aged 15 to 30 who will be able to take advantage of the executive order declared by President Obama in June. The deferred action order, dubbed “dream relief”, will allow young undocumented immigrants to put off the threat of deportation for two years to allow them to pursue studies and work opportunities.