doi:10.7916/yvsm-aw59Oral history interview with Stephanie Valencia, 2021Valencia, Stephanieoral historiesmixed materialPresidents--United StatesPresidential campaigns--United StatesEmigration and immigration--Government policy--United StatesUndocumented immigration--Government policy--United StatesHealth care reform--United StatesHispanic Americans--Social conditions--United StatesValencia, StephanieObama, BarackPritzker, PennyDeferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (U.S.)U.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementUnited StatesUnited States. CongressUnited States. Department of CommerceAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (Dream Act)Stephanie Valencia describes her work on the 2008 Obama campaign, efforts to consolidate the Latino vote, the community's political power, and the role of Puerto Rico in primary elections. She discusses the 2008 transition, the early days in the White House, and the main priorities of immigration reform, the Recovery Act, and healthcare. As principal deputy director of public engagement, Valencia delves into Latino outreach and engagement, including ensuring Puerto Rico was well covered in the Recovery Act, messaging to historically uninsured communities about the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and including undocumented people in the ACA exchange. Additional policy items discussed are the early fight for, messaging around, and Senate vote on the DREAM Act, as well as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) as an alternative to the DREAM Act. Valencia discusses the "un-conference" approach of the Hispanic Policy Conference; the informal task force of Latino White House staff; and Latinos44, a group of Latino appointees across the administration. Valencia describes her time at the Department of Commerce from 2013 to 2015, the role economic and trade policy can play in foreign policy, and her relationship with Penny Pritzker. Also discussed are Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, naturalization ceremonies, the nomination and confirmation processes for Justice Sonia Sotomayor and her participation on the Supreme Court, increased partisanship and the politicization of immigration, the pace and scope of deportations during the Obama administration, White House Community Action Summits, Obama's trip to Puerto Rico, and Obama's commitment to having women in the administration