The Democratic convention has hired several undocumented immigrants — but isn't paying them

The 2016 Democratic National Convention.
(Image credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images))

To highlight the contrast between presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton's immigration policies and those of her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia next week will be organized with the help of several undocumented immigrants who have been given roles on the credentials committee, the platform committee, and the roster of speakers.

The new hires can be confident they will not face deportation as a result of taking such high-profile positions thanks to a "deferred action program" adopted by the Obama White House to delay deportation of immigrants who were illegally brought to the United States as children.

They will not, however, be paid for any of their work at the convention, though the official Democratic platform includes support for a $15 minimum wage.

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Bonnie Kristian

Bonnie Kristian was a deputy editor and acting editor-in-chief of TheWeek.com. She is a columnist at Christianity Today and author of Untrustworthy: The Knowledge Crisis Breaking Our Brains, Polluting Our Politics, and Corrupting Christian Community (forthcoming 2022) and A Flexible Faith: Rethinking What It Means to Follow Jesus Today (2018). Her writing has also appeared at Time Magazine, CNN, USA Today, Newsweek, the Los Angeles Times, and The American Conservative, among other outlets.