Two Houstonians – Devani Gonzalez and Brij Agrawal – got the chance to witness the president of the United States deliver the State of the Union address to Congress in person.
One was invited by a Democrat. The other, a Republican.
Two Houstonians – Devani Gonzalez and Brij Agrawal – got the chance to witness the President of the United States deliver the State of the Union address to Congress in person.
They both are immigrants: Agrawal was born in India, and is a Subway franchisee, and Gonzalez a Mexican-born teacher dreaming of becoming a Houston cop.
Pete Olson, a Sugar Land Republican, invited Agrawal to show an example of how some « legal » immigrants can succeed in the United States, his office said.
Gonzalez was invited by Houston’s newly elected Democrat congresswoman, Sylvia Garcia, hoping to highlight the real-life consequences of being an undocumented immigrant in the United States.
Politics aside, both of them had an amazing time in the nation’s capital.
« I’m still digesting it, » Agrawal said. « This was my first time going to the State of the Union. The experience of seeing so many senators and congressmen in one room was so thrilling. It was everything I expected and more. It was overwhelming. »
For Gonzalez, the trip was as amazing.
« I’m exhausted, » Gonzalez said. « But it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. »
Gonzalez immigrated to Galena Park from her home state of Coahuila, Mexico, where she was born. Her parents brought her to the Houston area when she was 7, she told Chron.com.
From there, she attended public schools in Galena Park ISD and is currently obtaining an paralegal associates degree at San Jacinto College.
