[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 1, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CALLING FOR DEPORTATION RELIEF AND FOR THE SWIFT ENACTMENT OF 
                    COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JUAN VARGAS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 1, 2014



  Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on my colleagues to 
expand the deferred action guidelines to provide deportation relief for 
the immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, Legal Permanent Residents and 
DREAMers. Earlier this month, I joined some of my colleagues in asking 
President Obama to use his prosecutorial discretion at all levels of 
immigration enforcement proceedings.
  A majority of my colleagues and I are committed to comprehensive 
immigration reform and have demanded a vote on the House Floor. It is 
imperative that the House put politics aside and work together to reach 
a compromise that will benefit our country, strengthen our economy, and 
allow 11 million people to step out of the shadows. The House must 
enact immigration reform that is fair and reflects the highest values 
of our nation. We are a country of immigrants and how we treat those 
who aspire to be citizens reflects our democracy's commitment to uphold 
the moral principles upon which our nation was built.
  As we continue to fight for comprehensive immigration reform, we 
cannot ignore the fact that families and communities are being torn 
apart on a daily basis. The impact of watching a parent, sibling or 
child being ripped away from the family unit is crushing and causes 
untold damage. We must restore judicial discretion and expand deferred 
action guidelines to provide deportation relief to immigrants who have 
done nothing wrong but seek a better life for their children, their 
families, and themselves.

                          ____________________