Larissa Martinez, valedictorian at McKinney Boyd High School, revealed that she is undocumented last week during her graduation speech.
Larissa Martinez, valedictorian at McKinney Boyd High School, revealed that she is undocumented last week during her graduation speech. McKinney Boyd High School

In Austin and North Texas, two high school valedictorians are drawing national attention for publicly identifying themselves as undocumented. 

In Austin, Crockett High School valedictorian Mayte Lara drew both praise and ire via social media last week when she tweeted a picture of herself along with the message, “Valedictorian, 4.5GPA, full tuition paid for at UT, 13 cords/medals, nice legs, oh and I’m undocumented.” The tweet drew thousands of responses on social media before Lara deactivated her Twitter account. Lara later clarified to the Austin American-Statesman that she has Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, status. 

Check out this report on Lara’s tweet and the reaction it sparked from our news partner, KVUE:

Outside Dallas, Larissa Martinez, valedictorian at McKinney Boyd High School, revealed that she is undocumented last week during her graduation speech. Martinez, who has been accepted to Yale, also used the speech to criticize Donald Trump’s plan to build a border wall.

WFAA, our news partner, filed this report, which includes clips from Martinez’s speech:

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Aman Batheja was a political reporter and editor for the Tribune from 2012 to 2019. Previously he worked for eight years at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, most of that time covering state and local politics....