[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 10, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING ANA POTTRATZ ACOSTA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ILHAN OMAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 10, 2020

  Ms. OMAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ana Pottratz Acosta, a 
tireless attorney, advocate, and organizer, as she receives the 
International Institute of Minnesota's Olga Zoltai Award. I cannot 
imagine a better person to be recognized with this award.
   Ms. Pottratz Acosta wears many hats in the Twin Cities--a clinical 
instructor at Mitchell-Hamline School of Law, vice chair of the 
regional American Immigration Lawyers Association chapter, a pro-bono 
mentor at the Advocates for Human rights, and more. She's also at the 
forefront of community response to major immigration policy changes, 
such as the Central American Minors refugee program and the recent 
Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act. Connecting these threads is 
a deep passion for immigration justice--a commitment that our openness 
and acceptance of immigrants and refugees is a non-negotiable principle 
of our country. Ms. Pottratz Acosta has approached this work not as a 
savior--but rather a partner in our common fight for liberation.
   To me, Ms. Pottratz Acosta represents the best parts of America: 
someone who is using all the tools at her disposal to fight for a world 
that is more filled with love, more connected, and more beautiful. When 
I see Ms. Pottratz Acosta, I also see in her face the faces of all the 
immigrants she has helped start a better life in our community. Because 
of her, I know that our future is brighter.
   I thank Ms. Pottratz Acosta for her service to our community. It is 
an honor to get to work alongside her for justice for all of our 
neighbors.

                          ____________________