© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

In A Video, A Frank Back-And-Forth Between 'DREAMers' And Congressman

We usually don't post videos driven by politics. But there is one video making the rounds today that shows a tense conversation between two undocumented young people and Rep. Steve King, a Republican from Iowa.

There are no fireworks and no truly controversial things are uttered by either side. But on display is the truly complex issues that come up when we talk about immigration.

In the video, Erika Andiola and Cesar Vargas tell the congressman they came into this country illegally through no fault of their own. They studied and grew up feeling like they were Americans. Vargas tells King he's ready to serve in the military and Andiola asks King to tear up a work permit card given to her as part of President Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

King, who's not exactly known as the most diplomatic of Washington figures, declines and a conversation ensues. It's about how immigrants have few options to come to the United States legally. And from King's point of view, it's about following this country's tradition of adhering to the rule of law.

It's civil and interesting and worth a few minutes of your day:

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Eyder Peralta is NPR's East Africa correspondent based in Nairobi, Kenya.
KCUR prides ourselves on bringing local journalism to the public without a paywall — ever.

Our reporting will always be free for you to read. But it's not free to produce.

As a nonprofit, we rely on your donations to keep operating and trying new things. If you value our work, consider becoming a member.