Texas high school valedictorian receives backlash for tweet

A Texas high school valedictorian who described herself as “undocumented” in a tweet touting her academic accomplishments says she didn’t intend to cause offense.

Mayte Lara graduated last week in Austin. She told the Austin-American Statesman Wednesday that she just wanted to show that anyone can succeed, regardless of barriers.

Her tweet said: “Valedictorian, 4.5GPA, full tuition paid for at UT, 13 cords/medals, nice legs, oh and I’m undocumented.”

The tweet generated a barrage of negative comments online, most calling for her to leave the country and expressing anger at her University of Texas scholarship.

Lara has Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status, which protects certain youths from deportation if they were brought into the U.S. illegally as children. It allows them to work and study in the U.S.