The Glorious Way Democrats Stuck It to Trump During His Congressional Address

President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress on Feb. 28, and when he looked into the audience, he saw not just lawmakers but immigrants who attended as their guests. Democratic members of Congress, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris, invited to the speech a host of immigrants to protest Trump's severe immigration policy.

Warren announced that an Iraqi refugee, Tiba Faraj, would join her on Tuesday evening. Faraj, 20, sought refuge from Iraq in Massachusetts in 2010 after her father was paralyzed working for an American contractor in 2006. The family initially fled to Jordan before they were accepted as refugees in America. Faraj is currently a junior at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where she studies accounting and international relations.

"Tiba's courage, resilience and optimism embody the very best of the American spirit," Warren said in a statement announcing her guest's attendance. "Our strength as a country is rooted in our diversity, and Tiba's many contributions have made us that much stronger."

Harris invited a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient to attend Trump's speech. Yuriana Aguilar — who was brought to America from Mexico by her parents when she was a child — graduated from the University of California Merced. The 26-year-old now researches the human heart at the department of physiology and biophysics at Rush Medical College in Chicago. Yuriana was also the first DACA receipient to obtain a PhD.

"Researchers like Yuriana are on the cutting edge of advancements that will make our nation healthier," Harris said in a statement. "We must protect that status by continuing to invest in biomedical research through laws, like the Affordable Care Act, and by fostering DREAMers like Yuriana."

Several other congressional members invited more refugees, immigrants, and activists to attend Trump's address. Representative Nydia Velazquez from New York brought Hameed Darweesh, who was detained in New York City for 10 hours after Trump's travel ban; he served as an American Army interpreter for a decade before seeking asylum in the US.

Other guests included another former interpreter from Iraq Banah Alhanfy, who was initially barred from entering the country after Trump's tavel ban; a Syrian refugee; and at least two other DREAMers.

As Trump continues to pursue paths banning immigrants from entering the US and cracking down on those who are undocumented (despite new reports that he may be pursuing a softer plan), the president will have to face those whom it affects the most.