By Emily Kopp | Roll Call
working for a member of Congress.
When Arizona Rep. Greg Stanton was elected last November, he considered it a no-brainer that his campaign’s political director, 28-year-old Elizabeth Perez, would join his congressional staff.
Perez had spent months knocking on doors and speaking to voters across south Phoenix and Mesa. She had deep roots in the 9th District, where she’d lived since she was 4 years old.
She was knowledgeable about policy and had a track record of success working behind the scenes for the Phoenix City Council — from the installation of a new dog park to an ordinance requiring equal pay for women in the city.
But during the orientation for freshman lawmakers shortly after his election, Stanton learned that Perez, a Dreamer, was forbidden from working for a member of Congress.
“I would call that a WTF moment,” he said. “It’s mean-spirited. DACA recipients have overcome challenges. They have grit and tenacity and the skill sets needed to work on Capitol Hill. It’s not only a detriment to these folks who have public service careers closed off to them, it’s a detriment to the country.”
