[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 6, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H4292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   UNDOCUMENTED TEXAS VALEDICTORIANS

  (Mr. VEASEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Mayte Ibarra and 
Larissa Martinez, two undocumented valedictorians from Texas, for their 
academic achievement and bravery amid the anti-immigrant rhetoric that 
was wielded their way.
  Mayte and Larissa's educational excellence is living proof of the 
American Dream. No matter what your immigration status may be, if you 
work hard and dream, anything is possible. Their determination and 
academic success, despite the personal obstacles that were in front of 
them, helped get them into the University of Texas and Yale.
  Larissa's valedictorian speech reminds us of how important 
immigration reform is. I want to read you a quote. ``The most important 
part of the immigration debate and the part most often overlooked is 
the fact that immigrants, undocumented or otherwise, are people too. 
They are people with dreams, aspirations, hopes, and loved ones.''
  We should all take this message to heart, Mr. Speaker, no matter what 
your political background may be. We can no longer ignore the anti-
immigrant rhetoric that we hear today. Instead, let's praise Larissa 
and Mayte's academic success and work to remove barriers to prevent any 
hardworking student from achieving the American Dream.

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