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California Appoints Illegal Immigrant To Statewide Post

The California Senate Rules Committee is making history today by appointing the first undocumented immigrant to a statewide post according to a statement from the Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León. 

Attorney and immigrant rights activist, Lizbeth Mateo, is set to serve on the California Student Opportunity and Access Program Project Grant Advisory Committee which advises the California Student Aid Commission on increasing college access for low-income students. 

Mateo tweeted her appreciation for her appointment to de León on Wednesday, thanking him for the opportunity. 

In  I often wondered if I was fit to b in ,  bc not many ppl w/ my same background did. I always went for it bc even if I felt inadequate I thought I could add something of value. I hope to do the same w/ @StudentAidCommission.

Thank you Sen. @kdeleon for appointing me to the CalSOAP Advisory Committee. I look forward to working w/ the rest of the committee & the Student Aid Commission in such important task - increase the accessibility of postsecondary education opportunities for low-income students.

"While Donald Trump fixates on walls, California will continue to concentrate on opportunities," de León said in a news release. "Ms. Mateo is a courageous, determined and intelligent young woman who at great personal risk has dedicated herself to fight for those seeking their rightful place in this country."

Mateo graduated from Santa Clara University Law School in 2016 and passed the California bar in 2017. She was brought to the U.S. by her parents from Oaxaca, Mexico when she was only fourteen years old according to de León's office. 

Photo: Getty Images


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