[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 7, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1645-S1646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN:
  S. 561. A bill for the relief of Alicia Aranda De Buendia; to the 
Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I am reintroducing a private relief 
bill

[[Page S1646]]

on behalf of Alicia Buendia, a woman who has lived in the Fresno area 
of California for more than 20 years. I believe her situation merits 
Congress's special consideration.
  She is married to Jose Buendia, and together they have raised two 
outstanding children, Ana Laura, age 28, and Alex, age 26, a U.S. 
citizen. Both children have excelled in school. Ana Laura graduated 
from University of California, Irvine, and Alex is currently attending 
the University of California, Merced.
  I previously introduced bills for Alicia, her husband, and Ana Laura. 
Thankfully, Jose has successfully secured lawful permanent residency 
for himself through cancellation of removal. This followed 7 
unfortunate years of delay in the immigration courts to determine his 
eligibility under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 for 
permanent residence. Ana Laura has obtained temporary protection from 
deportation through the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, 
DACA, Program.
  However, Alicia, who is eligible to adjust status, is still awaiting 
a determination on a family-based immigration petition filed by her 
U.S. citizen son. Additionally, she would be required to file a waiver 
application, which could result in separation from her family
  Alicia warrants private relief and a chance to start fresh in 
America. She goes to work season after season in California's labor-
intensive agriculture industry in Reedley, CA, where she currently 
works for a fruit packing company.
  In the more than 20 years of living in California, Alicia has 
dedicated herself to her family and community. She and Jose have worked 
hard to honestly feed their family and have raised two exceptional 
children who have both pursued and excelled in higher education.
  Alicia has a strong connection to her local community, serving as an 
active member of her church. She and Jose pay their taxes every year, 
have successfully paid off their mortgage, and remain free of debt. 
They have shown that they are responsible, maintaining health 
insurance, savings accounts, and retirement accounts. Without this 
private bill, Alicia would be separated from her lawful permanent 
resident husband, two children who rely on her for love, support, and 
guidance.
  I ask my colleagues to support this private bill.
                                 ______