[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 79 (Monday, May 14, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H4937-H4941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1945
                           IMMIGRANT SOLDIERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 18, 2007, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez) is recognized 
for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I welcome this opportunity today to rise 
and speak on a subject that has been conspicuously absent from 
legislative debate over the issue of immigration reform. Over the 
length of this debate, the proponents of the enforcement-only approach, 
some of which you heard earlier this evening, have repeatedly referred 
to immigrants as dangerous to the American economy, as dangerous to our 
society and dangerous to our culture.
  A number of my colleagues argue that immigrants take away jobs from 
American citizens and that immigration has a net effect of shrinking 
the middle class. They suspect immigrants generally of bringing crime, 
drugs, and even terrorism into our country. And they suggest that 
immigrants weaken our patriotic culture by failing to assimilate into 
American society.
  Fear characterizes all of these sentiments and arguments. Fear of 
change, both economic and social change. Fear of new contributions to 
the fabric of American culture. Generally, a fear of the ``other.''
  Fear can be a powerful and dangerous force. It can motivate hate. It 
can impede toleration and understanding. Fear can paralyze us with 
paranoia and blind us to reasoned and logical argument. Fear in the 
media and in the Halls of Congress have distorted the image of 
immigrants in this country.
  Much as sensationalist TV programming can make us believe that our 
communities are more dangerous than they really are, sensationalist 
characterizations of the immigrant population based on anecdotal 
examples or predictions of worst-case scenarios can falsely lead us to 
negative, reactionary, and unfounded opinions about immigrants.
  I can no longer tolerate the blanket generalizations used to cast our 
Nation's immigrant population in a universally negative and threatening 
light. They do not reflect reality. They misrepresent our national 
interest with respect to immigration. These arguments polarize the 
public and prevent reasoned and productive dialogue, and they promote a 
legislative climate that distracts us from our national interest in 
reforming our broken immigration policies.
  We can all agree that we need comprehensive immigration reform, but 
we must also come to an understanding that demonizing immigrants will 
not get us there. Ostracizing immigrants in this country with venomous 
and inapt rhetoric will not move us toward the integration of newcomers 
into our economy, or the promotion of safe streets for our children to 
play in, or assimilation of the immigrant population into American 
society.
  It can only delay the time when the immigrant population becomes a 
fully functional and participatory component of our American society. 
It can only set back the day when we can guarantee the security of our 
borders and documentation of all individuals that cross those borders.
  Like my colleagues that emphasize tough border enforcement, I, too, 
believe in reform that provides security for our country and 
documentation for all the individuals that enter American territory. I 
think that we speak with a common voice regarding our homeland security 
goals. Our approaches to talking about the issues of immigration and 
the methods for solving the problem may differ, but we share common 
goals in promoting our national and economic security. Debate over 
approaches to immigration reform is a topic for responsible legislative 
discourse.
  Today, my colleagues and I speak on a related topic about some of the 
immigrants that are the subjects of our larger debate over immigration. 
The immigrants we want to talk about are not threats to our national 
security, they are not threats to our economy, and they are not threats 
to our people. They, in fact, have demonstrated their solidarity with 
our Nation. Unquestionably, they wish to contribute to our security and 
to our economy. And the individuals we speak of cannot be considered 
separately as friend or foe to the American people, because they 
demonstrate daily that they are, in fact, Americans in their own right.
  The individuals we rise to speak of today are the tens of thousands 
of brave men and women in the American Armed Forces that were not born 
in the United States. Like the courageous sons and daughters born and 
raised in my home State of Texas and throughout this country, these 
individuals have taken an oath to defend the United States of America 
with their very lives if necessary.
  These immigrant soldiers may differ from their native-born brothers 
and sisters in terms of location of their birth and even in their 
citizenship status; however, on the battlefield, they are united by a 
common purpose.
  Among the soldiers in the United States military, there is no 
distinction between those that are born in Texas, in the Philippines, 
or in Mexico. They all take an oath. They all assume the same risks. 
They all make the same sacrifice. All are worthy of honor and 
distinction, and we must thank them all equally for giving so 
generously that we, living in communities across this great Nation, may 
do so peacefully.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my great privilege tonight and a true honor that 
the first member of the United States Armed Services that we are about 
to honor is Lance Corporal Jose Antonio Gutierrez, and this is the 
photo of Jose Antonio when he was a little boy, an orphan and I will be 
a little more specific in a minute, to the time he put on this uniform 
of the United States Marine.
  He was the first member of the United States Armed Forces killed in 
Iraq. He was not a citizen of this country.
  Marine Lance Corporal Jose Antonio Gutierrez, like most Guatemalans, 
was born into poverty. He was orphaned in 1983 at the age of 9 and 
taken in by Casa Alianza, or Covenant House, in Guatemala City. The 
causes and dates of his parents' deaths are unknown to us today.
  For the next 10 years, Lance Corporal Gutierrez led a tragic and 
tumultuous life, bouncing from the orphanage to the street and back 
again. His adulthood, like his childhood, was characterized by 
hardship. He worked for a time in a maquila plant, a sweatshop, 
operating a sewing machine. Even as a single person, making ends meet 
at such a job was incredibly difficult for this young man.
  In early 1997, Lance Corporal Gutierrez made a decision to travel to 
the United States to seek a better life. He arrived in California an 
undocumented immigrant. He attended North High School in Torrance, 
California.
  In March 2002, Lance Corporal Gutierrez enlisted in the United States 
Marine Corps because he wanted to become a citizen of this great 
country. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the Expeditionary 
Forces of the United States Marines 1st Division.
  Lance Corporal Gutierrez was killed a year later, close to the city 
of Umm al Qasr in southern Iraq, on March 21, 2003. He was 28 years 
old.
  This man's sacrifice, the first life laid down in the sands of Iraq 
on behalf of the United States, is testament to the belief of 
immigrants in the promise of America. It is a symbol of patriotism, of 
commitment to defending a dream that we all share.

  In May of last year, according to the United States Citizenship and 
Immigration Service, nearly 69,000 foreign-born soldiers, 5 percent of 
the entire military, are on active duty. Five percent are foreign born.

[[Page H4938]]

  Can it be said of these immigrants that they are a threat to our 
national security? Clearly, no. They ensure our national security.
  Can it be said that these immigrants threaten American workers? 
Clearly, no. They ensure that American workers can go to their jobs in 
peace.
  Can it be said of these immigrants that they threaten the safety of 
our communities with drugs or violence? Again, clearly, no. They are 
the pillars of their communities when home and defenders of their 
communities when abroad.
  Why then have so many in this debate over immigration missed the 
contributions these brave individuals make to the peace, the 
prosperity, and the security of our country? Do examples of immigrants' 
courage and sacrifice occur as seldom as those acts of violence some 
use to characterize an entire immigrant population? Is their heroic 
service anecdotal in the larger discussion about the contributions of 
immigrants to our society?
  Once again, I hardly believe so. One out of every 20 soldiers in the 
United States military was born outside the United States. Two members 
of an average platoon immigrated to this country and now serve us all 
honorably.
  What more can we ask of these young people? Lance Corporal Gutierrez 
not only gave his life for his adopted country; he was the first to do 
so in this war.
  What more can we ask of immigrant parents when they have already 
given up their brave sons and daughters for the defense of an adopted 
homeland?
  Mr. Speaker, these immigrant soldiers are among the most prominent 
faces of immigration today, but they are not uncharacteristic of the 
larger immigrant population. They represent the honest work ethic, the 
ambition and the patriotism characteristic of immigrants of all 
national origins and across all eras.
  They represent the frontier spirit that built our country and 
continues to bring the best the world has to offer here to our shores, 
to the United States, in pursuit of our common American Dream.
  At this time I would like to recognize a dear friend, a colleague, 
the dean of the Texas delegation, Congressman Solomon Ortiz of Texas.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Thank you, Charlie, for allowing me some time to speak 
tonight, and I would like to acknowledge your leadership in bringing 
this to the forefront.
  Mr. Speaker, as we continue the national discussion of immigration 
and the value of immigrants to our Nation, we must not forget the 
immigrant men and women who populate our Armed Forces, who fight for 
freedoms that we all enjoy each day, yet who in the current debate are 
cast aside as unworthy for citizenship. Yes, more than 70,000 of them 
serve our military today.
  Now, they have a unique love of America. They consider this great 
Nation as a beacon of light that drew them here, with a promise of 
freedom, of democracy and opportunity.
  The voices of these immigrant soldiers are remarkably missing from 
the debate on the value of immigrants in this Nation. I would like to 
add their voices today. For them, the United States is their only 
chance to make a new life. Like all soldiers, they don't want our 
Nation to be harmed. This is their brass ring, the key to the rest of 
their lives.
  They are willing to risk their life for this country because it is 
the promise of what working hard can give you. They come to the United 
States longing for a better life than they had in their homeland. Their 
last light of hope resides in what this Nation promises in terms of 
honoring our soldiers and supporting our troops.
  Many have said that they would rather fight and die for the United 
States because they so desperately want their home countries to 
emulate, to copy, their adopted Nation. They hope beyond hope that 
their public service in our military will someday influence their home 
countries, the ones in which they were born, so their families will 
someday have similar living conditions promised by this Nation and the 
same economic opportunities.
  They fear that if America's beacon of light is extinguished, the 
long-lasting effect of that would inspire great fear, in this 
hemisphere and around the world.
  One of the most heartbreaking exercises for me is going to military 
funerals, as it is for all of us. One of the most heartbreaking moments 
is with a family after losing a loved one and bestowing citizenship 
upon the lost soldier after he's buried.
  At this point, I would like my colleagues to join me in commending 
the service of Private First Class Rey Cuervo, killed in Baghdad by an 
IED just before New Year's Eve in 2003. He left behind a young wife, 
pregnant with his first child, a child of immigrants who will never see 
his father again, who died for this Nation.
  I still remember the moment I was there for the ceremony granting Rey 
his citizenship in 2004 after his death.

                              {time}  2000

  Tears in the eyes of all who attended the funeral spoke volumes. Yes, 
so far to the price of citizenship, now so close to God, so that you 
and I and the rest of the citizens of this great country could enjoy 
the freedoms and privileges and liberties that we have today.
  Mr. GONZALEZ. I yield at this time to my colleague from Colorado, an 
Army veteran himself. I do want to point out, without his permission, 
but knowing this particular fact, that the Salazar family, I know that 
he lost his uncle during World War II, and that was incredible and 
brave service by the Salazar family, Congressman John Salazar of 
Colorado.
  Mr. SALAZAR. I want to thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding, 
Mr. Gonzalez, and I want to thank your leadership for bringing this 
very important issue to the forefront.
  Tonight, I would like to tell the story of Christopher Herrera. Lance 
Corporal Evenor Christopher Herrera was just 9 years old when his 
family came to the United States from Honduras in search of 
opportunity. He found that opportunity for himself in the United States 
serving in the Marine Corps, which he joined a year after graduating 
from Gypsum's Eagle Valley High School in Colorado.
  He figured that enlisting he could pave the way to a better future, 
or, as he told his family, the 22 year-old would be considered a hero 
if he should die while serving his adopted country. Fate chose him the 
latter. On August 10, 2005 while manning a machine gun during a clash 
near Ar Ramadi in Iraq, an improvised explosive device detonated. 
Herrera was killed in combat with a month and a half left before he was 
to return home.
  From the time his family immigrated from Honduras, he began talking 
about joining the Army. Christopher, as he was known to his family and 
friends, was not naive about the dangers he faced in Iraq. His brother, 
who was also a Marine, said that Christopher was happy to fight for the 
country that he loved. He would rather die over there as a hero and be 
remembered as doing something good, as opposed to being here and not 
remembered at all.
  His mother, Blanca, said that he joined because he wanted to have 
more opportunity in this country. He wanted a career in the Marines. 
The stories about Christopher come easily. His sister recalled about 
how shy he was, but yet he was fearless, and once drove a 4-wheel-drive 
vehicle down a muddy hill, nearly flipping it over. Christopher enjoyed 
typical mountain activities like most young men in Colorado, like 
fishing and snowboarding.
  The brothers often went camping. The brothers were close, but because 
they were both deployed Balmore Herrera hadn't seen his brother in 7 
months. When Christopher was killed, Balmore was called to act as 
official military transport as his brother's body was transported from 
Maryland to Colorado.
  There have been 3,396 servicemembers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, 
and over 25,000 Americans wounded. This evening, members of the 
Hispanic Caucus rise to recognize immigrant servicemembers because 
these brave men and women didn't have the privilege of being born in 
this country. They chose to live here, and also made the choice to 
serve the country they loved in the Armed Forces.
  Many immigrants, like Christopher, have paid the ultimate sacrifice 
for their country. Each of them has a story. Each story is filled with 
struggle and a hope for opportunity. Like Christopher, each story is 
also filled with sacrifice.

[[Page H4939]]

  There is an Internet blog set up as a memorial for Lance Corporal 
Herrera. Whiskey 3, Red 2, left these words for him:
  ``To my fellow brother Evenor, I had the great privilege of serving 
with you in the good and the bad times.
  ``I'll keep fighting the good fight, and one day I'll see you again . 
. . and together we can guard the gates of heaven as we once guarded 
each other in Iraq.
  ``You will never be forgotten.''
  Mr. GONZALEZ. At this time I would yield to my dear friend, a fellow 
Texan, the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Ciro Rodriguez.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. I want to thank my friend and colleague from San 
Antonio, Congressman Charlie Gonzalez, for taking this opportunity 
tonight for us to recognize those soldiers that have served our country 
and that have been immigrants and are noncitizens of this country. I 
want to personally thank him for allowing this opportunity for us to be 
able to do that.
  There are approximately 69,300 foreign-born men and women who serve 
in the United States Armed Forces, roughly 5 percent of the total 
active duty force. Of those 43 percent, which is 29,800, are not U.S. 
citizens. I repeat, of those that are serving our country, of those 
69,000, 43 percent, or 29,800, are non-U.S. citizens.
  The Pentagon says more than 100 immigrant soldiers have died in 
combat in Iraq and Afghanistan in the last 5 years. I want to repeat 
that again, that over 100 immigrant soldiers have died both in the war 
in Iraq and Afghanistan.

  This evening, I join my colleagues in paying tribute and recognizing 
the service of these men and women who, out of the desire to become 
citizens of the United States, enlist and fight proudly and bravely for 
our country. They display the ultimate symbol of patriotism and of 
commitment to defending a dream that we all share.
  The service and sacrifice of these brave immigrants is often lost in 
our debate over immigration reform. That is why I am here this evening 
to share the story of immigrant soldiers from the 23rd Congressional 
District. The story and life of the soldier is of great significance to 
the State of Texas and the Nation.
  Earlier this year, Texas State Representative Chente Quintanilla of 
Texas introduced a resolution to the Texas House of Representatives 
paying tribute to the life of Sergeant Israel Devora Garcia. Sergeant 
Garcia of Clint, Texas, died in Iraq on April 1, 2006, at the age of 
23.
  Sergeant Garcia was attached to the Headquarters Company, 2nd 
Battalion, 6th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, 
based in Baumholder, Germany, and was serving his second tour of duty 
in Iraq. He was mortally wounded while conducting a dismounted patrol 
in Baghdad.
  He was born in Zacatecas, Mexico. Sergeant Garcia came to the United 
States at the age of 6 and graduated in 2001 from Clint High School in 
Texas, where he was an honor student. Although he completed all of his 
required courses ahead of schedule and was told that he only needed to 
attend school part-time, he insisted on attending a full day and, in 
his spare time, helped tutor other kids.
  Drawn to the military at an early age, Sergeant Garcia spent 4 years 
in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps and demonstrated a 
notable capacity for leadership. In addition to winning first and 
second place medals during week-long camps at Ft. Bliss, Texas, he 
attained the rank of major and served in the executive office of these 
units.
  Family and friends will forever remember Sergeant Garcia for his 
cheerful nature, his great zest for life and his strong desire to help 
others. In his leisure time, he enjoyed playing the guitar with 
friends, and he had a special passion for soccer.
  After fulfilling his commitment to the Army, Sergeant Garcia's plan 
was to study law enforcement at Texas A&M University and hopefully 
apply for the FBI in the Border Patrol. Sergeant Garcia earned United 
States citizenship shortly before he died, and he was officially 
proclaimed a citizen at the cemetery in Clint, Texas.
  Notwithstanding the dangerous nature of his mission, this courageous 
soldier performed his mission with dedication and professionalism. He 
was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Through his 
unfaltering devotion to duty, honor and his country, Sergeant Israel 
Devora Garcia embodied the highest ideals of the United States Armed 
Forces, and his valiant efforts in the memorable sacrifice are 
deserving of honor by every American.
  Sergeant Garcia is survived by his mother and his father, Frances and 
Lorenzo Sandoval; his sister, Rosa Sandoval; and his brothers, Adrian 
Sandoval and Lorenzo Sandoval, Jr. Sergeant Garcia's story may not seem 
like that of other veterans, but this represents part of the American 
history that has too often been overlooked.
  His story, like the stories my colleagues are sharing tonight, are 
stories of immigrants in this country. This evening we share those 
stories of individuals that are out there giving their all. More 
notably, the American public must understand and recognize that 
noncitizens have served and have died for our country, not only during 
the Iraq and Afghanistan war, but during every single war during this 
country's struggle.
  I take this opportunity to once again thank Charlie Gonzalez for 
allowing us to have this opportunity.
  Mr. GONZALEZ. Thank you very much for your attention and for your 
story of Israel Garcia.
  At this time I would like to yield to the gentlelady, Congresswoman 
Grace Napolitano, from the great State of California.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Thank you, Congressman Gonzalez. Thank you for 
allowing the Hispanic Caucus to speak today on this very important 
issue of Hispanic veterans and the problems that we have seen them 
face.
  I would like to relate a story of SGT Henry Meraz, an Army veteran of 
the Vietnam War, who lives in my district. Sergeant Meraz grew up in El 
Paso, Texas, moved to California at age 17, registered with the 
Selective Service and was drafted into the Army in 1967.
  He served honorably on the special forces team in Vietnam, receiving 
five distinguished medals and a Purple Heart before being honorably 
discharged in October of 1969. He has lived a full, normal, law 
abiding, average American life with his family. He is married, he has 
retired from his job. He has one child currently in the university and 
a second one who is a Los Angeles deputy sheriff.
  In 2003, Mr. Meraz, Sergeant Meraz, went to renew his driver's 
license, whereupon he was shocked to learn that he was not a U.S. 
citizen, that his Social Security was not being recognized and the 
administration had listed him as a Mexican national.
  Upon checking into this further, he could not find his birth 
certificate in the city he grew up in in El Paso. He then immediately 
applied for United States citizenship based upon his exemplary military 
service and quickly relinquished, gave up his voting rights he thought 
he had the right to exercise since his 18th birthday.
  His application for citizenship was denied on the grounds of failure 
to show good moral character, citing his illegal voting history as bad 
moral character, even though he was and convinced he was a U.S. 
citizen. His DD214, the military discharge, lists him as a U.S. 
citizen.
  Then Henry appealed the decision so he could legally become what he 
thought he was always, a U.S. citizen. He signed a statement and swore 
under penalty of perjury that the votes he cast under his sincere 
belief of citizenship were true. Psychiatrists provided letters 
attesting to Henry's good moral character and the sincerity of his 
prior belief in his citizenship, because he was undergoing psychiatric 
treatment for Vietnam War related PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder.
  Thankfully, Henry won his appeal and will be taking his citizenship 
oath in my district at the City of Pomona, California, on May 30. I 
hope to be there to help him celebrate. This is not necessarily a 
unique story. Henry is but one of many, of many immigrants, who have 
served and continue to serve loyally and bravely in our Armed Services.
  As you have heard, there are currently nearly 69,000 immigrants in 
the United States Armed Services, which account, as you have heard 
again, for roughly 5 percent of our total Armed Forces. Any soldier 
will tell you, race, color, religion, et cetera, it does not

[[Page H4940]]

matter when you are fighting the enemy shoulder to shoulder. These 
brave men and women risk their lives for this country.
  We should, we must embrace them. What matters is there is loyalty to 
our country and their undying love for it, evidenced by their 
willingness to die for it.

                              {time}  2015

  They have earned and should receive the same benefits, the same 
rewards and the same recognitions, and they should be welcomed for the 
patriotic and brave dedicated service to our country through the small 
measure of granting them their citizenship. It is overdue and high time 
Congress addressed this issue. Just ask any veteran. It's the right 
thing to do.
  Our Congressional Hispanic Caucus is working on what we call the 
STRIVE Act, H.R. 1645, which addresses immigrants in our Armed Forces. 
The act, among other things, grants citizenship immediately after 
combat zone service, grants citizenship after 2 years of active duty, 
and creates a naturalization information telephone service for armed 
service members. We can do no less than to honor and respect the many 
immigrants who have served, those who are currently serving, and those 
who will continue to serve our country ensuring our country's freedom.
  Thank you Congressman Gonzalez, and thank you, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, it's my pleasure at this time to yield to 
my colleague and chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Baca).
  Mr. BACA. Thank you very much, Mr. Gonzalez, for carrying this issue 
this afternoon, and thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
  I rise to honor the more than 69,300 legal permanent residents who 
are currently serving in the United States Armed Services, which 
represents 43 percent noncitizens and 5 percent of the armed services 
who are serving now.
  Their courage, their honor and their sacrifices prove what we've 
always known, that you don't have to be born in America to love 
America. Each and every person who serves in the Armed Forces generally 
loves his country and is willing to give their ultimate sacrifice. And 
these individuals gave their ultimate sacrifice for this country, for a 
dream of coming here.
  Each individual was prepared to lay down his or her life to protect 
what is sacred to all of us, hope, freedom and opportunity, not only 
for them, but for all of us who believe in this country, because we 
know ultimately every person who has served in our military has been 
willing to lay down their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms, the 
freedoms that we have today. And the 69,300, 43 percent noncitizens, or 
5 percent of the United States, believed in the same sacrifice as other 
individuals who have served us. They know that our freedom comes from 
men and women who are willing to serve this great Nation.
  When I look at the names of immigrant soldiers who've died in Iraq 
and Afghanistan, it makes me realize why America is the greatest 
country in the world. And when we look at those individuals who served 
in World War II, the 500-some thousand, how many of those were 
noncitizens and immigrants?
  And when we look at my district, or the State of California, 26 
foreign-born soldiers from my State have given their lives in Iraq and 
Afghanistan. And they come from all over the world. But whether they 
come from El Salvador, Korea, Mexico, Jamaica or Honduras, when they 
put on that United States military uniform, they do it as Americans and 
with pride.
  Douglas Jose Marencoreyes, a young man from my district, was an 
immigrant to this country from Nicaragua. Corporal Marencoreyes came to 
this country with his family in search of opportunity and hope. Yet he 
was willing to serve in the Armed Forces when many others were not even 
willing to serve. And yet he found that by serving in the military that 
it was an honor.
  The same goes for Sergeant Jorge Alberto Molinabautista, an immigrant 
from Mexico who lived in my hometown of Rialto, California. Both of 
these young men died while serving in the global war on terror. And 
they did so proudly, with honor, with honor for what they believed and 
what this country stands for, for the freedoms, so they know that their 
children and others can enjoy the freedoms that we have, because this 
is the greatest Nation, the greatest country; and they knew it and they 
served for this country.
  Both men were posthumously awarded citizenship for their service to 
this Nation. Why? Because nothing would have honored the sacrifices 
more than to be recognized and acknowledge their love for this country.
  Mr. Speaker, our country is currently engaged in a great debate 
regarding immigration. And there are many who want to diminish or even 
deny the great contributions of immigrants to our Nation's history, 
economy, and culture. And many of these have contributed and continue 
to contribute to our country because they believe in this country. They 
come here for hope, for freedom and opportunity and are willing to 
serve and die for this country.
  But as we move forward in this debate, let us not forget the 69,300 
immigrants soldiers out there in the battlefields, those who are 
willing to risk their lives every day to protect the same people who 
are criticizing them, the same people who are criticizing, they're 
willing to stand up and defend those individuals because they believe 
in the principles and the freedoms and opportunities of this country.
  I urge the American people to support all troops, all individuals and 
the sacrifices of every one of our soldiers, regardless of where they 
were born, because at the end of the day they are willing to give their 
lives for this country and to sacrifice for this country. Each one of 
them are patriots and are true American heroes.
  Mr. GONZALEZ. Thank you very much, Mr. Baca.
  There is another individual that I want to recognize tonight, an 
extraordinary individual from an extraordinary family. This is 
Specialist Rodrigo Gonzalez-Garza. He comes from San Antonio. He died 
on February 25, 2003, when the Black Hawk helicopter in which he was 
riding crashed during a night mission 30 miles north of the Kuwaiti 
border. He was 26 years young.
  Specialist Gonzalez-Garza was born in Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon, 
Mexico and was brought to the United States by his parents as an 
infant.
  He graduated from San Antonio's Fox Tech High School in 1996 and 
joined the Army in 1998. Specialist Gonzalez-Garza, like many other 
casualties of the Iraq war, did not die an American citizen. He died 
defending the United States and pursuing a dream to become a citizen of 
this country. Only in death was his goal finally achieved. After he 
gave his life, Specialist Gonzalez-Garza was awarded posthumous 
citizenship.
  Specialist Gonzalez-Garza's sacrifice on our behalf is remarkable and 
perhaps only matched by the contribution that his parents have made to 
this great country. Specialist Gonzalez-Garza's parents, Ramiro and 
Orelia Gonzalez, have three other sons in the military, Staff Sergeant 
Ramiro Gonzalez, PVT Roland Gonzalez, and PVT Ricardo Gonzalez, 
Rodrigo's twin brother.
  One would find it difficult to find a family more devoted to the 
United States and our American way of life than the Gonzalez family. 
Specialist Gonzalez-Garza has given his life. His three brothers 
continue to defend our security and liberty with their lives, and the 
parents, they have given not one, not two, but all four of their sons 
to the service of their adopted country.
  I would like to share some of the sentiments posted on 
fallenheroesmemorial.com, a Web site devoted to the memory of soldiers 
killed in Iraq and Afghanistan during operations Iraqi Freedom and 
Enduring Freedom.
  The following are postings from fellow Americans who apparently did 
not know Specialist Gonzalez-Garza, but wished to express their 
gratitude for his service.
  From Grayslake, IL: ``Thank you Rodrigo Gonzalez-Garza. You will not 
be forgotten. Your bravery goes beyond words. I want to express my 
deepest gratitude for your sacrifice. To the family and friends, my 
prayers and deep condolences on your loss. May God strengthen you from 
knowing that fellow Americans and people around

[[Page H4941]]

the world care about you and grieve with you in your loss. God bless 
you all. Signed, a very appreciative fellow American.''
  From Wells, NV: ``To the family and friends of Specialist Rodrigo 
Gonzalez-Garza, may God's grace be with you during your time of grief. 
Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and we feel your 
loss and share your sorrow. Bless Rodrigo for his sacrifice he has made 
to make a better life for the rest of us in this country.''
  From Montrose, ME: ``Thanks for stepping forward when America needed 
you. To the family, thank you for your contribution to our liberty and 
to our freedom. I'm so sorry for your tremendous loss.''
  From Houston, TX: ``Specialist Gonzalez-Garza, goodbye soldier, and 
thank you. You are my hero.''
  All those individuals that didn't know Specialist Rodrigo Gonzalez-
Garza, they didn't know about his background. They didn't know about an 
undocumented family that came to this country and made the grandest 
sacrifice of all with four sons in the armed services, and one of those 
that gave his life in service of this country, their adopted country.
  Did any of these individuals that posted those sentiments on that Web 
site ask is he documented or undocumented?
  Had they known he was undocumented, or that the family had been 
undocumented, it would not have mattered, because we are united in 
purpose. We are united in spirit. And this is what the whole 
immigration reform debate is all about. Not what separates us. Not that 
which differentiates us, but rather, what binds us as a country, a 
country of immigrants, each making his unique contribution, wanting to 
be part of this country.
  I want to join all those individuals that posted on the Web site to 
share my gratitude for Specialist Rodrigo Gonzalez-Garza's service and 
sacrifice.
  Thank you, Specialist Gonzalez-Garza. Thank you also to Ramiro and 
Orelia Gonzalez, the parents, for the service of your sons. You 
emigrated from Mexico, but you have devoted yourselves and your family 
to the United States of America. We owe you comprehensive immigration 
reform. We owe you the opportunity to make your contribution in this 
country.
  Before we took the floor here tonight to highlight the lives of these 
individuals, you may have heard previous speakers. One felt great pride 
that a town in the State of Texas had passed a law that will make it an 
offense to rent accommodations to undocumented individuals that may 
find themselves in that particular township.
  What pride can be derived from a law of that nature? Who are you 
shutting the door to? In whose face are you slamming that door? I'll 
tell you. You are slamming it in the faces of Lance Corporal Gutierrez, 
Specialist Gonzalez-Garza, Lance Corporal Evenor Herrera, Sergeant 
Israel Devora-Garcia, SGT Henry Meraz, Corporal Douglas Jose 
Marencoreyes, and PFC Rey Cuervo. Those are the individuals.
  What is it that binds us, truly? Is it the color of our skin, our 
appearance, our ethic origin? No, it's what beats within us all.
  We are a Nation of laws. Our obligation as Members of Congress is to 
pass just and fair laws, and that's what we are seeking. Not those that 
will demonize, criminalize and punish individuals that are coming to 
this country at our behest. And make no mistake about that. They are 
coming because we are asking them to come and to be employed by fine, 
upstanding Americans.

                              {time}  2030

  And so they come, not to take but to give, to contribute.
  What we are attempting to do tonight is put a human face on this 
immigrant that so often is criticized, demonized, characterized as a 
threat to our way of life. Do not be so concerned. People are so 
concerned: Is the face of America changing? That should not be our 
concern. Is the heart and the spirit and the soul of America changing? 
That should be our concern. And I am here to tell you and we give 
testament tonight that it is not.
  For the next few weeks, my colleagues and I will take this floor, and 
we will demonstrate to you over and over again the contribution of the 
immigrant to this country, that their sons and daughters have donned 
this uniform. We have placed them in harm's way, and they have 
performed honorably and with great courage. There is no difference in 
that courage or the contribution that they make because of their 
ethnicity or undocumented status of a parent.
  You saw the face of that young boy from Guatemala who was an orphan 
who came to the United States illegally. Now, he wasn't good enough, 
brave enough, strong enough to maybe deserve getting an apartment in a 
certain town in Texas; but he was good enough and brave enough to serve 
as a United States Marine and give his life up defending this country. 
Where is the justice and fairness?
  Our soldiers are dying and protecting a way of life. And it is our 
obligation that that way of life is reflected in our laws, fair and 
just laws. That is what this debate is all about.
  So I ask that my colleagues give careful thought as we debate this 
issue, and at the conclusion of this debate we will have a meeting of 
the minds and come up with a plan that doesn't accommodate those that 
are breaking the law, but rather allows them an opportunity to redeem 
themselves and to serve this country in a capacity that will utilize 
their unique talents and contributions, and I look forward to that 
time.

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