Karla Ortiz, the daughter of undocumented parents, impresses crowd at DNC with heartfelt speech
Karla Ortiz, the daughter of two undocumented immigrants, drew some of the biggest cheers on Monday's opening night of the Democratic convention when she gave a heartfelt endorsement of Hillary Clinton.
The 11-year-old, the youngest speaker at the Democratic National Convention, appeared on stage with her mother, Francisca, who came to the United States illegally from Guatemala more than two decades ago.
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Karla, who was born in Las Vegas and is a U.S. citizen, shared the high stakes those living in the U.S. illegally face every day.
"My parents came here looking for a better life, for the American Dream," she said. "I don't feel great every day; on most days, I'm scared. I'm scared that at any moment, my mom and dad will be forced to leave, and I wonder what if I come home and find it empty?"
See reaction to Karla's heartwarming speech:
Karla met the presumptive Democratic nominee at a campaign stop in Nevada earlier this year. The meeting was later featured in a Clinton campaign ad.
"Valiente, brave, that's what Hillary Clinton called me when I told her I was worried my parents would be deported," she said. "Hillary Clinton told me that she would do everything she could to help us. She told me that I didn't have to do the worrying because she will do the worrying for me and all of us. She wants me to have the worries of an 11-year-old, not the weight of the world on my shoulders."
She received a standing ovation, ending her message by saying she wanted to become an attorney so she could help families like hers.
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