[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 7, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1644-S1645]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN:
  S. 558. A bill for the relief of Esidronio Arreola-Saucedo, Maria 
Elena Cobian Arreola, Nayely Arreola Carlos, and Cindy Jael Arreola; to 
the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, today I offer private immigration 
relief legislation to provide lawful permanent resident status to 
Esidronio Arreola-Saucedo, Maria Elena Cobian Arreola, Nayely Arreola 
Carlos, and Cindy Jael Arreola. The Arreolas are Mexican nationals 
living in the Fresno area of California.
  Esidronio and Maria Elena have lived in the United States for over 20 
years. Two of their five children--Nayely, age 30, and Cindy, age 28--
also stand to benefit from this legislation. The other three Arreola 
children--Robert, age 25, Daniel, age 22, and Saray, age 20--are U.S. 
citizens. The story of the Arreola family is compelling, and I believe 
they merit Congress's special consideration for such an extraordinary 
form of relief as a private bill.
  The Arreolas are facing deportation in part because of grievous 
errors committed by their previous counsel, who has since been 
disbarred. In fact, the attorney's conduct was so egregious that it 
compelled an immigration judge to write to the Executive Office of 
Immigration Review seeking the attorney's disbarment for his actions in 
his clients' immigration cases.
  Esidronio came to the United States in 1986 and was an agricultural 
migrant worker in the fields of California for several years. As a 
migrant worker at that time, he would have been eligible for permanent 
residence through the Seasonal Agricultural Workers, SWA, Program, had 
he known about it.
  Maria Elena was living in the United States at the time she became 
pregnant with her daughter Cindy. She returned to Mexico to give birth 
because she wanted to avoid any immigration issues.
  Because of the length of time that the Arreolas were in the United 
States, it is likely that they would have qualified for suspension of 
deportation, which would have allowed them to remain in the United 
States legally. However, the poor legal representation they received 
foreclosed this opportunity.
  One of the most compelling reasons for my introduction of this 
private bill is the devastating impact the deportation of Esidronio and 
Maria Elena would have on their children--three of whom are American 
citizens--and the other two who have lived in the United States since 
they were toddlers. America is the only country the Arreola children 
have ever known.
  Nayely, the oldest, was the first in her family to graduate from high 
school and the first to graduate college. She recently received her 
Masters in Business Administration from Fresno Pacific University, a 
regionally ranked university, and now works in the admissions office. 
Nayely is married and has a young son named Elijah Ace Carlos.
  At a young age, Nayely demonstrated a strong commitment to the ideals 
of citizenship in her adopted country. She worked hard to achieve her 
full potential both through her academic endeavors and community 
service. As the Associate Dean of Enrollment Services at Fresno Pacific 
University states in a letter of support, ``[T]he leaders of Fresno 
Pacific University saw in Nayely, a young person who will become 
exemplary of all that is good in the American dream.''
  In high school, Nayely was a member of the Advancement Via Individual 
Determination (AVID) college preparatory program in which students 
commit to determining their own futures through attaining a college 
degree. Nayely was also President of the Key Club, a community service 
organization. Perhaps the greatest hardship to Nayely's U.S. citizen 
husband and child, if she were forced to return to Mexico, would be her 
lost opportunity to realize her dreams and contribute further to her 
community and to this country.
  Nayely's sister, Cindy, is also married and has a 7-year-old daughter 
and a 5-year-old son. Neither Nayely nor Cindy is eligible to 
automatically adjust their status based on their marriages because of 
their initial unlawful entry.
  The Arreolas also have other family who are U.S. citizens or lawful 
permanent residents of this country. Maria Elena has three brothers who 
are American citizens, and Esidronio has a sister who is an American 
citizen. They have no immediate family in Mexico.
  According to immigration authorities, this family has never had any 
problems with law enforcement. I am told that they have filed their 
taxes every year from 1990 to the present. They have always worked hard 
to support themselves.

[[Page S1645]]

  As I mentioned, Esidronio was previously employed as a farm worker 
but now has his own business in California repairing electronics. His 
business has been successful enough to enable him to purchase a home 
for his family. He and his wife are active in their church community 
and in their children's education.
  It is clear to me that this family has embraced the American dream. 
Enactment of the legislation I have reintroduced today will enable the 
Arreolas to continue to make significant contributions to their 
community as well as the United States.
  I ask my colleagues to support this private bill.
                                 ______