The atmosphere quickly became emotional when Yvette Castillo, a woman in the audience, asked her question. She became overwhelmed with emotion while speaking, and Vice President responded with a heartfelt and lengthy answer.
YVETTE CASTILLO: You and I have something in common. We both lost our mother.
VP KAMALA HARRIS: Oh…
YVETTE CASTILLO: And I’m an American citizen born to two Mexican parents. They were here before I was even born. They have worked their whole lives. But with the way immigration laws change over time. I was only able to help my dad get his legal status squared away. But not my mom. My mom passed away just six weeks ago.
VP KAMALA HARRIS: I’m so sorry.
YVETTE CASTILLO: And she was never, ever able to get the type of care and service that she needed or deserved. Sorry.
VP KAMALA HARRIS: Take your time. Take your time.
YVETTE CASTILLO: So my question for you is, what are your plans, or do you have plans to support that subgroup of immigrants who have been here their whole lives, or most of them, and have to live and die in the shadows?
VP KAMALA HARRIS: I’m so sorry for you.
YVETTE CASTILLO: Thank you.
VP KAMALA HARRIS: You must remember your mother as she lived.
YVETTE CASTILLO: Mm-hmm.
VP KAMALA HARRIS: I have–. I have enough of a feeling about your strength that it probably comes from her to know she would want you to remember her as she lived and not as she died. Okay?
YVETTE CASTILLO: Mm-hmm.
VP KAMALA HARRIS: So let’s take it one step at a time. Your parents were here for years, it sounds like. And your father was able to earn his pathway to citizenship, but your mother was not. And I’m going to assume it’s because part of the problem is that we do have a broken immigration system. … And I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through. I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through. And, you know, my mother came to the United States at the age of 19. She was by herself, came alone by herself. She raised my sister and me, Maya. And I know what it is like to have a hard working mother who loves you and to lose that. But I know that her spirit is alive. I know her spirit is alive. And will you tell me her name? And let’s speak her name.
YVETTE CASTILLO: Maria. Sorry. Maria Dolores Figueroa.
VP KAMALA HARRIS: Maria Dolores. Okay. We speak her name. Okay?