The Latin Grammys were undoubtedly a celebration of Mexico and Puerto Rico. With both recovering from recent natural disasters, musicians used their platforms to send love to those affected. Alejandro Sanz, however, made sure Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients – who in September learned that the program that protects them from deportation has ended – were not forgotten. When he received the Persona del Año award, he dedicated the prize to them. But it wasn’t just that he used his acceptance speech to acknowledge the uphill battle these young undocumented immigrants face, it’s also that he gave them a platform in front of millions of people.
Immediately after receiving the prize, Sanz sang his biggest hits, including “Corazón Partío.” A group of DREAMers – as this group is sometimes called – came out and sang the chorus with Sanz as they wore black shirts that read, “We Have One Dream.” On the back, their shirts encouraged viewers to “Text Unidos to 313131.”
When the Trump Administration canceled DACA in early September, it also gave Congress six months to pass legislation to help this community. As the deadline looms, DREAMers are no closer to seeing a resolution. But as reports show that passing this legislation may come at the expense of other undocumented immigrants, activists are pushing for a clean DREAM Act.
The fact that Sanz used his performance to deliver a message of compassion in the face of so much cruelty touched viewers’ hearts. Here’s what people had to say about the most touching moment of the night:
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