Astrid Silva, face of Obama’s immigration plan, to speak before Senate committee

By Ana Ley

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014 | 2 a.m.

Newly famous Las Vegan Astrid Silva, the face of President Barack Obama's go-it-alone immigration plan, will speak at a Senate hearing today to sell the president's contentious executive action.

Silva, who catapulted to political stardom last month after a presidential shout-out, will be among five people speaking before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in support of Obama's efforts to grant protection for nearly 5 million people living in the country illegally.

She'll be joined by three legal experts and Elizabeth Shuler with the AFL-CIO, a pro-immigrant labor union group.

In a prepared statement, committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said the hearing will address "the need to keep children and their parents together." It'll address Obama's plan and the need for Congress to pass a more comprehensive reform bill.

"Far too many hardworking immigrant families today live in fear," Leahy said. "

For a live stream from the meeting, which begins at 11:30 a.m., visit the committee's website.