Congressional Reps Double-Down On Immigrant Guests At The State Of The Union

BROOKLYN — After a month-long partial government shutdown over funding for border protection, some of the Democratic-led Congress doubled-down on immigrant guests for Tuesday’s State of the Union (SOTU) address.

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, who boycotted the last two SOTUs over President Trump’s immigration stances, including Temporary Protective Status (TPS), joins DACA recipient Gregory “Ronnie” James of Helen of the West Indies as an attendee to this year’s state address.

The City of University of New York (CUNY) student majors in International Studies with a concentration in International Public Policy at City College. In 2016, Janes began organizing with the UndocuBlack Network, a network of undocumented Black people that fosters community facilitates access resources and contributes to transforming the realities of black immigrant lives.

The U.S. Rep. Nydia Velasquez invited Gerard Michaud, a TPS recipient.  Michaud works three jobs and is a member of the service workers Union, local 32BJSEIU.

U.S. Rep. Jerrold “Jerry” Nadler is also attending. He’ll be highlighting the DACA issue by providing his guest ticket to a DREAMer, according to spokesperson David Schwarz. The spokesperson would not disclose the name of the guest.

U.S. Rep. Caroline Maloney, wearing white in solidarity with other Democratic women in Congress, brought Sidney Ireland. The 17-year-old East Villager became an official member of Troop 414 in Manhattan after the Boy Scouts of America announced, last year, they’d go co-ed century-old boy’s club would go co-ed.

Freshman Congressman Max Rose, who recently unseated former Congressman in the 11th congressional district, is bringing Michel Kunz, the mother of a young boy who died as a result of opioid addiction.

Opioids have played a large part in drug-overdose deaths in the congressman’s district which encompasses Staten Island and parts of Southern Brooklyn.

“When I first met Michele, I was struck by the incredible strength and courage she and her family showed by turning the tragic loss of their son into a campaign to raise awareness about the drug epidemic in our community,” Rose said.

U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries did not respond to requests about his attendance at tonight’s SOTU. He did attend last year after several congress members bowed out in protest of President Trump’s immigration stance.