‘Dreamers’ to attend Trump State of Union

WASHINGTON, United States

(AFP) – Two dozen immigrants who came to the United States illegally will be in attendance Tuesday when President Donald Trump delivers his first State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress.

The move comes as the White House prepares to unveil its new immigration framework tomorrow, one that offers a pathway to citizenship for up to 1.8 million undocumented "Dreamers" who were brought to the country as children.

At least 23 Dreamers will be in the public galleries in the House of Representatives chamber as guests of Democratic lawmakers, according to a list provided Friday by a congressional aide.

Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Florida, a state with a substantial immigrant community, said he too will bring a Dreamer to the speech.

House Democrat Scott Peters of California said he was "honored" to have Karen Bahena, who was brought by her parents across the border from Mexico in 2001 when she was eight-years-old as his guest to Trump's speech.

Bahena, protected by the previous administration's deferred action that is set to expire on March 5 absent a fix by Congress, graduated from San Diego State University and aspires to be a nurse.

"Outstanding contributors to society like Karen should not be forced out of our country," Peters said in a statement. "Instead, they should be embraced and celebrated for making the United States a better place."

Half a dozen other immigrationrelated guests will also attend, including Congresswoman Debbie Dingell's guest Cindy Garcia, the wife of a father of two who was deported last week.