Her parents immigrated illegally to California from Oaxaca,
dress and her hair was pulled into two braids, twisting from side to
Mexico. Sophie was born in the US, and she calls herself an
side as she read her letter.
“American citizen with Mexico roots”.
“All immigrants just like my dad help feed this country. They
Her letter, handed to Pope Francis by security after their embrace,
deserve to live with dignity. They deserve to live with respect. They
asked him to call on US lawmakers to pass comprehensive
deserve an immigration reform.”
immigration reform so she and her family could stop living in fear
of deportation.
Pope Francis’s efforts to focus the Church on the poor and the
marginalized, has given hope to many immigrant communities
“I want to tell you that my heart is sad,” Sophie said, reciting to the
in the US and around the world that his message will reach the
Guardian from memory the letter she had memorized in Spanish
political leaders who ultimately determine their fates.
and English, just before she met the pope.
Martha Jauregui, a part of the immigration advocacy group,
“I would like to ask you to speak with the president and the
Hermandad Mexicana Transnacional, which organized for
Congress in legalizing my parents because every day I am scared
Sophie and a handful of others to go to Washington to deliver
that one day they will take them away from me.”
their immigration message, said she hopes Pope Francis calls on
Raúl stood next to his daughter as she spoke. He wore the same
Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
yellow shirt that Sophie would later hand to Francis. The shirt read:
“The Pope’s an immigrant, so he understands our plight,” she said.
“¡Papa Rescata DAPA!”, asking the Pope to save the program that
“He’s in the particular position to touch people’s hearts.”
would defer deportation for the undocumented parents of US
citizen parents, which has been held up in court.
Sophie wasn’t the only child Pope Francis blessed. During the
parade, two babies were carried out from the crowd by Secret
“I believe I have the right to live with my parents, I have the right
Service agents so the Pope could kiss their heads. The crowd
to be happy,” she recited. She wore a traditional embroidered
roared with applause after the gesture.
The Guardian
THE SEED - VOL 27, No. 10 OCTOBER 2015
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