During Sunday night’s (Jan. 28) Grammy Awards, before introducing U2‘s performance, Camila Cabello took an opportunity to recognize all the children of undocumented immigrants who are fighting to stay in the United States — because their story is no different from hers.
“Today, in this room full of music’s dreamers, we remember that this country was built by dreamers, for dreamers, chasing the American dream,” Cabello said, just after joining Kesha and dozens of other women on the Grammy stage to perform a powerful rendition of “Praying.” “I’m here on this stage tonight because, just like the DREAMers, my parents brought me to this country with nothing in their pockets but hope. They showed me what it means to work twice as hard and never give up. And honestly no part of my journey is any different from theirs.”
The final moments of her speech got huge applause from the audience, with everyone from her friend Lorde to Beyoncé clapping in support.
“I’m a proud Cuban-Mexican immigrant, born in Eastern Havana, standing in front of you on the Grammy stage in New York City, and all I know is, just like dreams, these kids can’t be forgotten and are worth fighting for.”
In September, the Trump administration rescinded Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy, which gave kids of undocumented immigrants — so-called DREAMers, after the DREAM Act — a chance to legally obtain a work permit and protection from deportation.
