[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN:
  S. 130. A bill for the relief of Jorge Rojas Gutierrez, Oliva 
Gonzalez Gonzalez, and Jorge Rojas Gonzalez; to the Committee on the 
Judiciary.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, today I am reintroducing a private 
relief bill on behalf of Jorge Rojas Gutierrez, his wife, Oliva 
Gonzalez Gonzalez, and their son, Jorge Rojas Gonzalez. The Rojas 
family members are Mexican nationals living in the San Jose area of 
California.
  The story of the Rojas family is compelling, and I believe they merit 
Congress' special consideration for such an extraordinary form of 
relief as a private bill.
  Mr. Rojas and his wife Ms. Gonzalez originally came to the United 
States in 1990 when their son Jorge Rojas, Jr. was just 2 years old. In 
1995, they left the country to attend a funeral, and then re-entered on 
visitors' visas.
  The family has since expanded to include a son, Alexis Rojas, now age 
16, and a daughter Tania Rojas, now age 14.
  Since arriving in the United States, this family has dedicated 
themselves to community involvement, a strong work ethic and 
volunteerism. They have been paying taxes since their arrival in 1990. 
The family has been described by their friends and colleagues as a 
``model American family.'' I would like to tell you some more about 
each member of the Rojas family.
  Mr. Rojas is a hard-working individual who has been employed by 
Valley Crest Landscape Maintenance in San Jose, California, for the 
past 14 years. Currently, Mr. Rojas works on commercial landscaping 
projects. He is well-respected by his supervisor and his peers.
  In addition to supporting his family, Jorge has volunteered his time 
and talents to provide modern green landscaping and a recreational 
jungle gym to Sherman Oaks Community Charter School, where his two 
youngest children attend school.
  Ms. Gonzalez, in addition to raising her three children, has been 
very active in the local community. She has worked to help other 
immigrants assimilate to American life by working as a translator and a 
tutor for immigrant children at Sherman Oaks Community Charter School 
and the Y.M.C.A. Kids after-school program.
  She has also coached soccer teams, and has recently directed a 
Thanksgiving food drive. Ms. Gonzalez also devotes many hours of her 
time to the organization People Acting in Community Together, PACT, 
where she works to prevent crime, gangs and drug dealing in San Jose 
neighborhoods and schools.
  Perhaps one of the most compelling reasons for permitting the family 
to remain in the United States is the impact their deportation would 
have on their three children. Two of the children, Alexis and Tania, 
are U.S. citizens. Jorge Rojas, Jr. has lived in the United States 
since he was a toddler. For these children, this country is the only 
country they really know.
  Jorge Rojas, Jr., who entered the United States as an infant with his 
parents, is now 20 and is currently working at Jamba Juice. He 
graduated from Del Mar High School in 2007 and is currently taking 
classes at San Jose City College.
  Alexis and Tania are students at Sherman Oaks Community Charter 
School. They are described by their teachers as ``fantastic, wonderful, 
and gifted'' students. In fact, the principal at Sherman Oaks has 
described all three of the children as ``honest, hard-working academic 
honor students'' and have commended all of them for their on-campus 
leadership.
  It seems so clear to me that this family has embraced the American 
dream, and their continued presence in our country would do so much to 
enhance the values we hold dear. I have received 30 letters from the 
community in support of this family. Enactment of the legislation I 
have reintroduced today will enable the Rojas family to continue to 
make significant contributions to their community as well as the United 
States.
  Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to support this private bill. I 
ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 130

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS FOR JORGE ROJAS 
                   GUTIERREZ, OLIVA GONZALEZ GONZALEZ, AND JORGE 
                   ROJAS GONZALEZ.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of 
     section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1151), Jorge Rojas Gutierrez, Oliva Gonzalez Gonzalez, and 
     Jorge Rojas Gonzalez shall each be eligible for the issuance 
     of an immigrant visa or for adjustment of status to that of 
     an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence upon 
     filing an application for issuance of an immigrant visa under 
     section 204 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1154) or for adjustment of 
     status to lawful permanent resident.
       (b) Adjustment of Status.--If Jorge Rojas Gutierrez, Oliva 
     Gonzalez Gonzalez, or Jorge Rojas Gonzalez enters the United 
     States before the filing deadline specified in subsection 
     (c), Jorge Rojas Gutierrez, Oliva Gonzalez Gonzalez, or Jorge 
     Rojas Gonzalez, as appropriate, shall be considered to have 
     entered and remained lawfully in the United States and shall 
     be eligible for adjustment of status under section 245 of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1255) as of the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.
       (c) Deadline for Application and Payment of Fees.--
     Subsections (a) and (b) shall apply only if the application 
     for the issuance of an immigrant visa or the application for 
     adjustment of status is filed with appropriate fees not later 
     than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (d) Reduction of Immigrant Visa Numbers.--Upon granting an 
     immigrant visa or permanent residence to Jorge Rojas 
     Gutierrez, Oliva Gonzalez Gonzalez, and Jorge Rojas Gonzalez, 
     the Secretary of State shall instruct the proper officer to 
     reduce by 3, during the current or subsequent fiscal year, 
     the total number of immigrant visas that are made available 
     to natives of the country of birth of Jorge Rojas Gutierrez, 
     Oliva Gonzalez Gonzalez, and Jorge Rojas Gonzalez under 
     section 203(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1153(a)) or, if applicable, the total number of 
     immigrant visas that are made available to natives of the 
     country of birth of Jorge Rojas Gutierrez, Oliva Gonzalez 
     Gonzalez, and Jorge Rojas Gonzalez under section 202(e) of 
     such Act (8 U.S.C. 1152(e)).
                                 ______