[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 26, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S4260]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HATCH:
  S. 905. A bill for the relief of Heilit Martinez; to the Committee on 
the Judiciary.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a private relief 
bill for Miss Heilit Martinez. As my colleagues know, private relief is 
available in rare instances. I believe that the circumstances 
surrounding Miss Martinez's case are extraordinary and merit the 
introduction of private legislation. Therefore, I am pleased to 
introduce this legislation today.
  Miss Martinez was brought into the U.S. with her parents when she was 
about two years of age and has lived in Utah since that time. It is 
important to note that Miss Martinez did not make the decision to enter 
this country as a young child nor did she decide to overstay a visa, 
and she was led to believe that she had legal status. Miss Martinez was 
raised and educated in the United States and is currently a straight A 
student at Utah State University.
  Last year, Miss Martinez and a group of her college friends traveled 
into Mexico for a short day of sightseeing. When questioned at the port 
of entry, Miss Martinez declared that she had not been born in the 
United States but had legal immigration status. However, when she could 
not produce legal documentation, it was discovered that Miss Martinez 
was undocumented. She was detained for some days prior to her release.
  For all intents and purposes, Miss Martinez does not have a country 
to which to return. The United States is her home. Therefore, I urge my 
colleagues to support the passage of this legislation to help Miss 
Martinez on the path of becoming a lawful, permanent resident.
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