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SANTA CRUZ >> Adriana Gonzalez, 25, was nervous about her invitation to President Donald Trump's inaugural State of the Union address Tuesday in Washington.

The Salinas college student who came to the U.S. illegally as a child was among dozens of so-called Dreamers — former child immigrants with temporary protected status — brought to the Capitol by lawmakers who believe the roughly 700,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) deserve the continued right to live, work and study in the U.S.

Hartnell College was honored to host a press conference with special guest Congressman Jimmy Panetta Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at Steinbeck Hall, to provide students and the community with the latest information on efforts to pass permanent legislation in Washington D.C. to provide lasting immigration relief to keep families together and allow Dreamers a path to citizenship.

Congressman Panetta has invited 25-year-old Adriana Gonzalez, a Hartnell College student: "I want to bring the face of a DREAMer to President Trump," said Panetta. "I want him to look up in the gallery and see the face of a DREAMer -- someone who epitomizes what it means to come here and strive for the American Dream. And that's what I believe Adriana encompasses."

Congressman Jimmy Panetta's (D-Carmel) office announced over $76.96 million in federal grants dispersed around the Central Coast in 2017. Of that, the lion's share, more than $54.09 million, went to Monterey County. Santa Cruz County collected some $16.85 million, San Benito County received less than $3.47 million, and Santa Clara County $2.56 million.

SALINAS, Calif. - A dreamer, who goes to Hartnell College, is heading to Washington to see the State of the Union in person.

Adrianna Gonzalez said her boss told her about the opportunity to attend the event in Washington, D.C. Tuesday and decided to go for it. She met Congressman Jimmy Panetta in September and has been passionate about helping other DACA recipients like herself. She said she is both nervous and excited to be in the presence of the president.

On Jan. 19, on the eve of the recent federal government shutdown, federal employees were uncertain. A tweet from the Presidio of Monterey read, "Presidio of Monterey is currently in the planning and preparation stages for a potential furlough. We are focused on our civilian workforce family. More info to come as needed. ‘Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.'"

Of the Presidio's 249 employees, 136 were furloughed on Monday, Jan. 22.