The Democratic Party has selected a handful of undocumented immigrants for official roles at next week's Democratic National Convention, in a bid to highlight the gaping policy divide on immigration between White House hopeful Hillary Clinton and Republican rival Donald Trump.
Clinton is hoping to drive Latino voters to the polls on Nov. 8 to shore up her chances against Trump, who has campaigned on a promise to crack down on illegal immigration by building a wall along the Mexican border and deporting millions of undocumented foreigners if elected.
"Our nation is a nation of immigrants that believes in being inclusive, and that’s exactly what we will continue to work toward," said Leah Daughtry, the chief executive officer of the committee organizing the July 25-28 convention in Philadelphia.
"The voices of our nation’s brave undocumented youth will be heard loud and clear,” Daughtry added.
The picks include two members of the convention credentials and platform committees, as well as several speakers. The positions are unpaid, officials said.
Trump's campaign, which has argued that unchecked immigration hurts American workers and undermines national security, criticized the move.
"Apparently speaking at Hillary Clinton’s convention is just one more job Hillary Clinton thinks Americans won't do," a Trump campaign aide said in an emailed statement. "She should have instead invited unemployed Americans, or victims of crime, or law enforcement."
The selections are legal because of a "deferred action program" adopted by President Barack Obama’s administration, which postpones deportations and provides work authorization for some immigrants brought to the United States as children. The Supreme Court blocked efforts to expand those protections last month.
The nominations mark the first time a major U.S. political party’s convention has featured so many undocumented workers among its ranks. While there was an undocumented speaker at the 2012 Democratic convention, the party has not previously tracked the immigration status of its committee members.
"It changes the whole conversation when you have someone directly affected at the table," said Cesar Vargas, a Mexican immigrant chosen for the party's policy platform committee.
Hareth Andrade, 23, an undocumented immigrant from Bolivia who was approved under a deferred action program, was picked for the credentials committee. The convention will also feature at least two undocumented immigrant speakers, Astrid Silva and Francisca Ortiz.
Clinton already has overwhelming support from minorities. Some 70 percent back her, compared with 9 percent for Trump, according to recent Reuters/Ipsos polling, suggesting that she could have a strong chance in states like Florida, Nevada and Colorado that swing between voting Democratic and Republican in presidential elections.
However, voter turnout among Latinos has traditionally been low, hitting only about 40 percent in 2012, meaning her challenge is to get more of them to cast ballots this year.
Luis Fraga, co-director of the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame, said showing a commitment to progressive reform of U.S. immigration policy could help Clinton do that.
He called immigration a gateway issue for minority voters that can help engage them. That’s especially so because even Latinos born in the United States are often not far removed from family members who are immigrants themselves.
"Although it’s not their individual experience, it is their family’s experience," Fraga said.
stupid cunts 
So....hire illegal immigrants. Which is..isn't that a bit illegal?
Is the DNC platform to just open our border with Mexico, with no enforcement or legal process? Just come to the US, work under the table, utilize public services, vote and stay as long as you like?
How is that fair to people trying to immigrate legally from other countries?
This is most likely our next President.....
Depressing.
Considering that farmers and other businesses receive large fines for hiring undocumented workers..... It's a fair bit of bullshit imo. 
They should change their logo from an Ass to a Panda for all the pandering they do
I like the RNC story better.
Suck a dude!
"Apparently speaking at Hillary Clinton's convention is just one more job Hillary Clinton thinks Americans won't do"
Lol that is a great quote, kudos to whoever came up with that
so if you are a american and you break the law. your ass goes to jail. you are not given a free pass and have your crimes ignored. why should people who are not americans get a free pass. i understand they are coming here because life sucks where they are. they broke the law to escape the shit hole the was trapped in. many people in prison today did their crimes for the very same reason. i can't support this double standard
i have no issue with people coming to this country from the correct channels. maybe rework those channels to meet the demands. this country is a melting pot made of people from everywhere. we just must do it the legal ways
They're coming to make your convention better
FedorFan5000 -They're coming to make your convention better
Wrong thread, bro.
That's the motto for the RNC.
^^ http://forum.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum_framed.posts&forum=2&thread=2579481&page=1&pc=35
"in a bid to highlight the gaping policy"
Too much porn and OGing, since the first things that came to my mind were the asses of Jada Stevens and Remy La Croix.
Well, we already knew this. It's the sole reason behind the liberal policy with immigration: make them feel grateful and that Democrats are responsible for getting them here and they will vote Democrat.
It's only libtard voters that think it's because of kindness, compassion, or a progressive ideology. There's a reason libtards are called libtards: they are out of touch with reality and lack any common sense.
SnapLocally - ^^ http://forum.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum_framed.posts&forum=2&thread=2579481&page=1&pc=35
Well from what I can tell atleast the gay prosts are legal!
player101 -It's not about fairness, it's about increasing the dem voter base.Is the DNC platform to just open our border with Mexico, with no enforcement or legal process? Just come to the US, work under the table, utilize public services, vote and stay as long as you like?
How is that fair to people trying to immigrate legally from other countries?
With HIllary as their frontrunner, Democrats have told the world that character and abiding by laws do NOT matter any longer. Being corrupt is the best thing now.
cis-gendered illegals at that...
I just get SO angry that when people think of illegals and ASSUME they are men OR women.
WE NEED TO BOOST THE PERCENTAGE OF TRANSGENDERED, GENDER-FLUID & NON-GENDER CONFORMING ILLEGALS NOW!!!!!!
LOL, tell me that Hillary's camp cares about the country and not just boosting her votes.
Jesus, these people will do ANYTHING to get into office. Yes, both of them.