California 'Dreamer' to Address California Delegates at DNC Convention

California Democratic Party Chair John Burton has been to his fair share of  political conventions over more than five decades in politics.

So when this year's convention rolled around, he decide to do something a little different with his pass: He offered it to a young immigrant who is in the country illegally.

Elmer Lizarde grew up in Sacramento, but was born in Mexico. When he was 5, Lizarde's father arranged for him to sneak across the U.S.-Mexico border with the help of a coyote. Now,  Lizarde is a Dreamer -- one of hundreds of thousands of young people granted temporary relief from deportation, and a work permit, by the Obama administration.  He's also a UCLA-bound teenager who feels as American as any of his friends.

"I would definitely consider myself more American than anything just because I have been part of this system my entire life," he said. "You know I grew up learning the story of this nation every day in my schoolwork and it's been ingrained in me more than anything else, really."

On Monday, Lizarde will not only get to attend the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia -- he will get to address more than 700 California delegates and politicians outside the convention hall. The California Democratic Party offered Lizarde the opportunity to welcome California's delegation to town at a breakfast meeting headlined by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Lizarde said he's excited to talk about the doors Obama and California Democrats have opened for him by supporting policies that are welcoming to immigrants. It's a sharp contrast to the tone at the Republican National Convention this week, where many politicians and other speakers spent time attacking illegal immigration.

"The most important thing I can convey is that I am proud to say I'm a California Democrat," Lizarde said. "California Democrats have been working for increasing opportunities for more people in California, and I think it's an example of great leadership for the rest of the states to follow. ... The American Dream is kinda built on the foundation of opportunity, and I am living that. California laws and lawmakers have given me the opportunity to achieve what I want to."

Lizarde isn’t the only Dreamer speaking Monday -- Nevada immigrant rights activist Astrid Silva will address the full convention before first lady Michelle Obama’s opening night speech. Both Silva and Lizarde could have obtained legal residence if the DREAM Act had passed.

Lizarde was raised by his grandparents on a ranch near Sacramento -- but he spent much of his childhood with his best friend’s family. That friend’s mom is Angie Tate, an executive in the California Democratic Party.

Tate noted that Lizarde's grandparents were in the U.S. legally and "paid their taxes for 35 years -- and wanted the same things for Elmer as I want for my kids."

Tate said Burton wanted to send someone to the convention who could speak for Californians who are often invisible -- and respond to Republican nominee Donald Trump’s calls to keep immigrants out of the U.S.

“Hearing Trump speak about building the wall, John felt he needed to have the next generation of folks that are really building our state and our nation ... to really show that the laws in California are working," said Tate. She was referring to state laws that allow undocumented immigrants things like driver's licenses and in-state tuition at public universities, which are available to legal residents

This isn't Lizarde's first political event -- he's been attending state party conventions and other Democratic gatherings for years. This spring, he got to meet Vice President Joe Biden, a moment he said he's "still in shock" from.  He calls the close-up look at democracy "refreshing."

"The opportunity to see the inside of system -- the good and bad -- and understand even though it's slow, and people complain, the process does work," he said. "That's what's most compelling to me."