Lorella Praeli, Hillary Clinton's Latino Outreach Director, Finally Becomes US Citizen

We first found out Hillary Clinton had hired former Dreamer activist Lorella Praeli as the campaign’s Latino Outreach Director when Hillary for America National Political Director Amanda Renteria confirmed the news back in May.

“We are thrilled to have Lorella Praeli, a Dreamer, join our team because of her courage and perspective in the fight for Latino families across the country,” Renteria said in a press release. “Her experiences and relationships will be valuable in developing the coalition to ensure the Latino community has a voice in this campaign and in this country.”

Praeli spent 13 years as an undocumented immigrant after her father brought her to the U.S. from Peru when she was 10 years old. She received her green card in 2012, documentation that made her a legal permanent U.S. resident, but not a citizen. That was until Tuesday December 14, when Praeli was sworn in as a U.S. citizen. “There is no better feeling,” the 27-year-old said after the ceremony. “It was everything coming together.”

Praeli joined 30 other new citizens in a special naturalization ceremony at National Archives, which included a speech from President Barack Obama. When Praeli’s name was called, she stood and waved a small American flag. On Wednesday, the proud American took to social media to show her excitement, “All smiles today. I have called the United States my home for 17 years, but today I am signing all of my emails like this,” she wrote next to a photo that reads “Your fellow American, Lorella Praeli – Director of Latino Outreach – Hillary for America.”

Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton congratulated her via Twitter: “I’m so proud to call you my fellow citizen. Felicitaciones!” Congratulations to Lorella, who will finally have the change to vote in the upcoming election. #LatinosUnidos #EveryVoteCounts.