[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 6 (Friday, January 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E41-E42]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              FOR THE RELIEF OF JEANETTE VIZGUERRA-RAMIREZ

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JARED POLIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 10, 2014

  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the case of Jeanette 
Vizguerra Ramirez. I have introduced a bill on her behalf in an effort 
to prevent the senseless destruction of her family in light of her 
tremendous contributions to her community and the immigrant rights 
movement in Colorado.
   Jeanette Vizguerra Ramirez has been in the United States since 1997. 
She has three young U.S. citizen children, and two citizen 
grandchildren. She is a devoted mother and grandmother who routinely 
volunteers with a local elementary school to ensure the success of her 
children, as well as that of their respective peers. Ms. Vizguerra 
Ramirez has also established extraordinarily strong ties to Colorado 
through her tireless work with numerous community organizations. 
Several news outlets have documented her commitment to improving the 
lives of members of her community through her volunteerism and 
advocacy. It is abundantly clear that Ms. Vizguerra Ramirez is a 
positive influence in her community, and that she does not pose a 
threat to those around her. Nevertheless, despite her long-term 
residence, strong family ties, and extensive community contributions to 
the U.S., Immigration and Customs Enforcement currently seeks to remove 
her to her country of origin.
   We can no longer afford to sit idly by while our limited tax-payer 
enforcement dollars are

[[Page E42]]

spent producing such untenable outcomes. While our continued inability 
to modernize our broken immigration system is bad for businesses, the 
overall economy and the federal deficit, it is completely devastating 
to hundreds of thousands of families who suffer the consequences every 
year.
   The U.S. House of Representatives has neglected its responsibility 
to address our broken immigration system for far too long. Every 
passing day brings devastating consequences to thousands of families 
throughout our country. Our current enforcement-centric approach is a 
relic of another time that needlessly destroys families, and leaves 
thousands of U.S. citizen children without one or more of their 
parents. This approach runs contrary to our American system of values.

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