[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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