Lizbeth Mateo, a 33-year-old attorney and immigrant rights activist, has become the first undocumented resident to be appointed to a statewide post, according to Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León’s office.
“While Donald Trump fixates on walls, California will continue to concentrate on opportunities,” de León said in a news release. “Ms. Mateo is a courageous, determined and intelligent young woman who at great personal risk has dedicated herself to fight for those seeking their rightful place in this country.”
Mateo will serve on the California Student Opportunity and Access Program Project Grant Advisory Committee which advises the California Student Aid Commission on efforts to increase college access for California students from low-income or underserved communities.
Mateo was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, and was brought to Los Angeles by her parents at age 14. She didn’t learn English until high school, according to de Leon’s office, but became the first person in her family to graduate from college,
Mateo said she welcomed the opportunity. “While undocumented students have become more visible in our state, they remain underrepresented in places where decisions that affect them are being made,” she said in a statement.
