Vice President arrives to DACA demonstrators in Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Attendees of the Statesman's Dinner at the Music City Center saw more than Vice President Mike Pence.
They also witnessed a crowd of roughly 150 demonstrators, who showed up for the vice president's visit to Nashville.
Alondra Gomez is among those showing her support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. DACA protects children of undocumented immigrants and allows them to work.
"I have shown this nation what an immigrant can do," said Gomez during the rally.
Gomez told Fox 17 News she came to the United States without documentation at the age of five.
Today she's a college student studying to be a nurse thanks to DACA.
"Without it I wouldn't be able to do anything," Gomez said. "I wouldn't be able to go to school or have a job. I'd go back to living in the shadows like I was before, and I won't be able to make a name for myself."
Demonstraters hoped to send a message to Pence and other elected officials to encourage President Trump to defend DACA in court next month.
Tennessee's Attorney General does not support the program.
Lisa Sherman-Nikolaus with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition believes removing DACA would hurt not only recipients but also the economy as 8300 people benefit from it in Tennessee.
"It would be devastating to our economy," Sherman-Nikolaus said. "These individuals now have driver license, social security numbers. They are paying taxes working in things like nursing."
