Andrea Mitchell decided to stump for Hillary Clinton Thursday afternoon by having reporter Jacob Soboroff, once again, pal around with Hillary’s volunteers as they try to get out the vote. Soboroff linked up with a Hillary volunteer in Nevada as she went door-to-door, but it was no average supporter of Hillary. “Jessica is one of scores of volunteers undocumented for the campaigns here, both Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton,” Soboroff reported.
“You've got workers here for these presidential campaigns that cannot actually vote for the president of the United States, but they're spending their time, their energy, their effort and their emotions on this.” Said Soboroff to kick off the segment.
The MSNBC reporter joined Jessica as she made her rounds for Hillary. The pair road around on bikes because her and her family are in the US illegally and she cannot get a license yet. “Well, I’m a Dreamer … I came from the Philippines and when I was 6 years old back in 2003.” Jessica said. Soboroff then inquired about when she first realized when her family had over stayed their work visa. “Back in 2007, when we moved here in Las Vegas. There was just a lot of complications that were happening and eventually, I found out. You know, they were lying out paperwork on the—on their bed and I just found out that way.”
Jessica admitted that there have been occasions where the people she talks to “come out” to her as illegal immigrants as well. The only question Soboroff had for that revelation was “And how does it make you feel?” To which Jessica replied “I don't know. It is just really a happy feeling because even back when I was going to school, I never had people come out to me until I came out to them.”
The MSNBC interview comes on the heels of the Hillary Campaign releasing an ad where Hillary promises a 10 year old girl that she will do everything she can to keep the girl’s family from getting deported.
Transcript below:
MSNBC
Andrea Mitchell Reports
February 18, 2016
12:45:06 – 12:48:18 PM EasternANDREA MITCHELL: The most recent CNN|ORC poll for Nevada showed Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders nearly tied. With 48 percent for Clinton and 47 percent for Sanders. That is a virtual tie. And Clinton had had a 24 point lead only a couple of weeks ago. Minority voters may well determine the outcome on Saturday. Joining me now is MSNBC's Jacob Soboroff, and Jacob met with several of the undocumented, you know, undocumented workers here and several of the Dreamers, and even looking at the whole issue on how immigration is going to impact the race.
JACOB SOBOROFF: And these are people, Andrea, that'll be watch our town hall very closely tonight, with a focus on immigration reform. It's—it’s an extraordinary thing to see. You've got workers here for these presidential campaigns that cannot actually vote for the president of the United States, but they're spending their time, their energy, their effort and their emotions on this. And one was a Hillary Clinton volunteer, take a look at this.
[Cuts to video]
SOBOROFF: Alright Jessica, so you’re an organizer for the Hillary Clinton campaign. What’s the deal with the bikes?
JESSICA: Well, we’re about to go canvas right now. I take bikes so you’re going to take a bike as well.
SOBOROFF: Can I ask you? Why do you use bikes?
JESSICA: I don't have a car. I don't drive.
SOBOROFF: You don’t drive? How come?
JESSICA: I don’t have a license yet.
SOBOROFF: You don’t have a license yet? Why not?
JESSICA: Um, well I’m a Dreamer. It was just something that I was just very, it's difficult to get.
[Video jumps ahead]
JESSICA: I came from the Philippines and when I was 6 years old back in 2003, and—
SOBOROFF: That makes me feel really old. You were 6 years old in 2003.
[Laughter]
JESSICA: I was 6 years old in 2003.
SOBOROFF: At what point did you realize that your parents had overstayed their work Visa and that you were undocumented?
JESSICA: Back in 2007, when we moved here in Las Vegas. There was just a lot of complications that were happening and eventually, I found out. You know, they were lying out paperwork on the—on their bed and I just found out that way.
SOBOROFF: And was it hard for you as a young kid or?
JESSICA: I didn't understand it. I was quite confused. But I didn't understand what our situation was and when it meant and the consequences of it.
[Video jumps]
SOBOROFF: Do you tell people about your status? Do you say “I’m undocumented” when you nock ever?
JESSICA: Yeah. Okay, I guess Kristen's not here.
SOBOROFF: Give it a second knock. You never know. What do you say to them about your status?
JESSICA: Well we talk about personal stories. You know, especially listening and hearing each other individuals.
SOBOROFF: What do they say?
JESSICA: I’ve had other dreamers come out to me, right at the door.
SOBOROFF: You had dreamers come out to you at the door. And how does it make you feel?
JESSICA: I don't know. It is just really a happy feeling because even back when I was going to school, I never had people come out to me until I came out to them.
SOBOROFF: So all it takes is a door knock, sometimes, to get people to share a story like yours.
JESSICA: Yeah it really does. You really have to listen. That's all it is.
SOBOROFF: All you've got to do is listen. Maybe someone will be at the next one.
[ Video cuts back to live ]
SOBOROFF: Pretty incredible that Jessica is one of scores of volunteers undocumented for the campaigns here, both Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. And they are working their tails off to see this next president of the United States elected and again, they can't even vote. And if you want to take for a bike ride later Andrea.
