Josie Molina Macaraeg is an 11-year-old from Nashville, TN.  She attended the event with 90 Rutherford County residents from TIRRC who want to see just and inclusive reform.

Since her father was placed in deportation proceedings, she’s been going to therapy to deal with the anxiety and negative feelings caused by the threat of his removal.  When Tennessee Rep. Scott Desjarlais announced he would hold a town hall on immigration, she decided to attend to seek his support even though it was at a tea party event of more than 200. Josie rose and took the mic, and in a trembling voice, said “Mr. Desjarlais, I have papers but my daddy doesn’t, what can you do to make sure he can stay?” Rep. Desjarlais rebuked her request to a round of applause from the audience, but Josie and her family will keep on fighting to stop his deportation.