DREAMers Take Stage at DNC

As Latinos continue to reshape the nation's political map, and get ready to play a decisive role in the Nov. 6 presidential elections, at least 12.2 million are expected to cast their votes.

The Republicans held their convention last week and the Democrats are in the last leg of its convention. Both parties have been vying for the Latino vote with various strategies.

The Republicans chose Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Texas Rep. Francisco Canseco, Sher Valenzuela, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor of Delaware; Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, Ted Cruz, GOP Senate nominee from Texas, First Lady of Puerto Rico Luce Vela Fortuno and New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez to speak at their convention.

The Democrats chose the young Hispanic mayor of San Antonio, Julian Castro to deliver its keynote address. The democratic party also took a different approach: inviting DREAMers to tell their own stories.

In June, President Obama signed an executive order that allowed hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children to remain in the country without fear of deportation and able to work. The DREAM Act did not give any permanent legal status, but clears the way for young illegal immigrants to work legally and obtain driver's licenses and many other documents they have lacked. The Department of Homeland Security can no longer initiate the deportation of illegal immigrants who came to the United States before age 16, have lived here for at least five years, and are in school, are high school graduates or are military veterans in good standing.

On Wednesday, Benita Veliz, a DREAM Act activist and undocumented immigrant, addressed delegates at the convention telling them that she will help the continuous fight for immigration reform.

"I have had to live almost all my entire life knowing I could be deported just because of the way I came here," Veliz said. "President Obama fought for the DREAM Act to help people like me. We will keep fighting for reform. But while we do we are able to work, study and pursue the American Dream."

Veliz became the first undocumented person to speak at a convention. She has temporary residential status under the DREAM Act.

Veliz introduced Cristina Saralegui, a respected and influential role model in the Hispanic community. She endorsed President Obama earlier this year.

"This is a critical time for our country and for the Hispanic community," she said in June. "Hispanics could very well decide the next election and I will do everything I can from now until November to ensure that President Obama is re-elected. There's simply too much at stake."

At the convention, Saralegui was very critical of Romney.

"For the first time in my life, the promise of America is in danger," she said. "Governor Romney would turn Medicare from a guarantee into una libreta de cupones - a book of coupons. He would repeal health care reform, forcing millions of Hispanics to lose insurance. Governor Romney's plan is really just one word: pa'trás-backward.