As politicians prepare for President Donald Trump’s first address to a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C., this evening, one a representative from Queens is bringing a special guest with her to hear the speech.
Congresswoman Grace Meng, who represents parts of Middle Village, Forest Hills, Glendale, Ridgewood and Bayside, announced on Tuesday morning that Queens resident Angie Kim, a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, will be her guest at the Trump’s address.
The DACA program, which former President Barack Obama created through an executive action in 2012, allows for qualified immigrants who came to the country as children to receive work permits and remain in the United States.
Kim was brought to the country by her parents from South Korea at 9 years old and has lived in parts of Queens including Bayside, Elmhurst, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Rego Park and Woodside. She now fears that her ability to remain in the U.S. could be in jeopardy, as Trump has made conflicting remarks regarding the future of the DACA program.
“Having Angie as my guest for the President’s speech is a huge show of solidarity against the cruel and un-American immigration policies of the Trump Administration,” Meng said. “Her parents came here seeking a better life and she now works to improve the lives of other immigrants. I am proud to share her story and to have her stand with me at the president’s speech.”
Kim is currently a community organizing fellow at the MinKwon Center for Community Action in Flushing.
“I have used my story as an example of how broken, arduous and unjust the U.S. immigration system is,” Kim said. “In 2013, I had the privilege of meeting with then-President Obama where I and other ‘dreamers’ shared our stories in the Oval Office. I thank Congresswoman Meng for inviting me and for standing up to President Trump’s immigration policies.”
Meng — who was recently elected the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee — is not the only Queens representative bringing a special guest with her to Trump’s speech.
Congressman Joseph Crowley recently announced that he will be inviting Sarker Haque, the owner of Fatima Food Market in Astoria, who was attacked in his store in December 2015 by a man from Florida who shouted “I kill Muslims” while punching the store owner repeatedly in the face.
