All hail illegal immigration

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) paraded Ms. Benita Veliz before their delegates at their convention.  Her speech and representation was in outreach to the Hispanic community. She waxed poetic about graduating as her high school's valedictorian at the age of 16 and earning a double major at the age of 20.  In her words, "I know I have something to contribute to my economy and my country. I feel just as American as any of my friends or neighbors."  Apparently, there is nothing more to being an American than overstaying your visa.

According to her brief bio (the extended bio has been removed) posted in 2009 at DreamActivist.org, Ms. Veliz's parents brought her "to the US when I was 8 years old on a tourist visa, from Mexico. The visa expired after one week but we remained in the country. We have lived in San Antonio, TX since. I am 23 years old. My grandmother is an American citizen. I’ve never been married. I don’t have any children. I went straight from high school to college and then to work. The only family I have left in Mexico is on my mother’s side and I have only seen them once or twice in my life, as a young child."  Therefore, in Ms. Veliz's reasoning she should be allowed to remain in the US because she has overstayed her visa by, today, 19 years and because she does not know her mother's side of the family.

That is the reasoning the DNC celebrated by placing Ms. Veliz before their delegates.  When she realized she was illegally in the country, she waited long enough for the US's resolve to break; for the US to surrender in enforcing its immigration laws. She is to be admired and emulated.  Work hard, persist in breaking the law and one day, you too will get away with it.  All hail illegal immigration!