'Be proud of being Hispanic': Student advocates head to DC to meet with lawmakers

Students from Raleigh's Hispanic community headed to Washington, D.C., on Monday to meet with lawmakers for the next two days.

The students plan on lobbying in support of DACA, and raise questions about recent ICE raids in North Carolina.

"They'll see we're real people and we really do care about the issues," said Reyna Sordo Gutierrez.

As a recipient of DACA, Gutierrez said she'll be advocating for the program.

"We're also going to talk about how in the state of North Carolina there has been an increase in ICE raids," she said. "They're at the gas station they're at the mailboxes."

Johan Molina, 18, has spoken to lawmakers before, and admits it can be intimidating.

"It can be daunting but once I started talking about my story and my truth, it wasn't as bad," he said.

Molina said he learned the power of sharing his story, and it's what he encouraged first timers to do on Monday.

"Come into it, be proud of it. Be proud of being Latino, be proud of being Hispanic," he said.

Angela Martinez's daughter, Sophia, is advocating for her parents and sharing their story.

"I'm not from here, I'm from another country that she can go over there and speak for us and say my rights," Angela Martinez said.

The students will be in Washington, D.C. for two days.