[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 115 (Tuesday, July 10, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5995]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MAVNI AND COMBATING LEGAL IMMIGRATION
(Mr. CORREA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pose a simple question: What
is merit-based immigration? Because it would seem that we have a
different interpretation from that of our President.
Panshu Zhao came to this country legally and joined the Army while
pursuing a Ph.D. He came to our country to be an American and to
contribute to the greatness of our Nation just like other generations
before all of us. He is one of the more than 10,000 legal immigrants
offered a chance to become a citizen through service and sacrifice.
These legal immigrants enlist in our Armed Forces with vital skills.
They have education, they are meritorious, and they are needed. But
this administration has now made going after legal immigrants one of
its primary goals.
When they threaten to deport doctors in the Army, the administration
is going after legal immigrants. When ICE arrests green card holders
over minor charges in their distant past, they are going after legal
immigrants.
If a soldier pursuing a Ph.D. does not qualify for merit-based
immigration, then who does?
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