[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              IMMIGRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. PETE OLSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 15, 2016

  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to interact with some of the 
brightest students in the 22nd Congressional District who serve on my 
Congressional Youth Advisory Council. I have gained much by listening 
to the high school students who are the future of this great nation. 
They provide important insight from across the political spectrum that 
sheds a light on the concerns of our younger constituents. Giving voice 
to their priorities will hopefully instill a better sense of the 
importance of being an active participant in the political process. 
Many of the students have written short essays on a variety of topics 
and I am pleased to share them with my House colleagues.
  Ann Marie Ramas attends Ridge Point High School in Missouri City, 
Texas. The essay topic is: Select an important event that has occurred 
in the past year and explain how that event has changed/shaped our 
country.

       In the past year, immigration has become a prevalent and 
     controversial topic in social and political discussions. 
     President Obama made some changes to immigration policies, 
     prompting the case United States v. Texas (2015) where a 
     Texas judge blocked President Obama's executive action on 
     immigration known as Deferred Actions for Parents of 
     Americans (DAPA). This executive order, along with the Catch 
     and Release Act, epitomizes President Obama's position on 
     immigrants. He believes that implementing lenient rules on 
     illegal immigrants is fair, that we should not deport illegal 
     immigrants under certain circumstances--if they have children 
     who are American citizens or legal residents, if they pass a 
     criminal background check, or if they are willing to pay 
     their fair share of taxes.
       Like most things nowadays, this has sparked some 
     controversy. In addition to the rising notoriety and 
     outrageous deeds of ISIS, the Syrian refugees seeking 
     protection, and the increasing frequency of terrorists' 
     attacks all over the world, United States v. Texas not only 
     exemplifies but also enlarges the heated issue of 
     immigration.
       America is a compassionate nation, but it is a 
     compassionate and fearful nation. We know that it is morally 
     right to help those in need, especially considering the fact 
     that Americans have all traveled to this great nation in 
     search for a better life. However, the terrorist attacks and 
     ISIS have embedded fear in Americans eliciting questions and 
     doubts like whether to choose ethics over their own security. 
     President Obama justifies his stance stating that, ``We are 
     born of immigrants. Immigration is our origin story . . . our 
     oldest tradition. Immigrants and refugees revitalize and 
     renew America''. Advocates agree and applaud this statement 
     while the opposing side wonders whether this is still true at 
     the cost of our safety. However, one thing that both sides 
     can agree on is the fact that the American immigration system 
     is broken. So how do we fix it? That is the debate.
       The United States v. Texas case and the whole immigration 
     matter distinctly divide the American people. Depending how 
     far we are from the first of our family to move to the United 
     States or how compassionate or cautious we are, we view this 
     concern from different perspectives. This issue has changed 
     and shaped our nation in that nowadays, the word 
     ``immigrant'' has a negative connotation. It is used as an 
     insult to imply that ``you don't belong here''. Illegal 
     immigration has also demeaned our country and opening 
     ourselves up to help refugees has allowed us to be vulnerable 
     to ISIS, eager to use our generosity as a chance to 
     infiltrate us. The American public now has an impaired 
     opinion of immigrants, forgetting that they are of 
     immigration descent as well. As President Obama said, the 
     United States is a country of immigrants. Immigration molded 
     this nation. It is the foundation of our people. People from 
     all over the world immigrated to America to escape hardships 
     and oppression. Therefore, it is quite ironic that centuries 
     after its establishment, America is being divided by 
     immigration.