Lupita Nyong'o and Kumail Nanjiani stand with Dreamers at 2018 Oscars

Lupita Nyong’o and Kumail Nanjiani used their time on stage at the Oscar to send an important message Sunday night.

When Nyong’o and Nanjiani took the stage the present the Academy Award for Best Production Design, they began their introduction by expressing their support for Dreamers, the term used to describe recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Presently, that bill, which protects undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States when they were children, is currently the subject of much debate in Washington.

“Like everyone in this room and everyone watching at home, we are dreamers,” said the Black Panther star. “We grew up dreaming of one day working in the movies. Dreams are the foundation of Hollywood, and dreams are the foundation of America.”

Added Nanjiani: “So, to all the Dreamers out there, we stand with you.”

Before arriving at that powerful message, Nanjiani also joked about his name. “Kumail Nanjiani is my stage name,” said Nanjiani. “My actual given Pakistani name is Chris Pine. So you can imagine how annoyed I was when the white Chris Pine showed up. The ‘real’ Chris Pine.”

Tonight, Kumail and Emily V. Gordon are nominated for Best Original Screenplay for their romantic comedy The Big Sick.