[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 157 (Monday, September 13, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6459-S6460]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN:
  S. 2722. 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 and Cindy, also stand to 
benefit from this legislation.
  The other three Arreola children, Roberto, age 29, Daniel, age 25, 
and Saray, age 24, 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 (SAW) 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 that 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 
Master's degree in Business Administration from Fresno Pacific 
University and now works at Gap, Inc. Nayely is married and has a young 
son named Elijah and a young daughter named Brooklyn.
  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, ``the 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 Advancement Via Individual 
Determination, a college preparatory program in which students commit 
to determining their own futures by 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 three children. 
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. 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 for every year from 1990 to the present. They have always worked 
hard to support themselves.

[[Page S6460]]

  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.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.

                                S. 2722

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS FOR ESIDRONIO ARREOLA-
                   SAUCEDO, MARIA ELENA COBIAN ARREOLA, NAYELY 
                   ARREOLA CARLOS, AND CINDY JAEL ARREOLA.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of 
     section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1151), Esidronio Arreola-Saucedo, Maria Elena Cobian Arreola, 
     Nayely Arreola Carlos, and Cindy Jael Arreola shall each be 
     eligible for issuance of an immigrant visa or for adjustment 
     of status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent 
     residence upon filing an application for issuance of an 
     immigrant visa under section 204 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1154) 
     or for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident.
       (b) Adjustment of Status.--If Esidronio Arreola-Saucedo, 
     Maria Elena Cobian Arreola, Nayely Arreola Carlos, and Cindy 
     Jael Arreola enter the United States before the filing 
     deadline specified in subsection (c), Esidronio Arreola-
     Saucedo, Maria Elena Cobian Arreola, Nayely Arreola Carlos, 
     and Cindy Jael Arreola shall be considered to have entered 
     and remained lawfully in the United States and shall be 
     eligible for adjustment of status under section 245 of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1255) as of the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.
       (c) Application and Payment of Fees.--Subsections (a) and 
     (b) shall apply only if the applications for issuance of 
     immigrant visas or the applications for adjustment of status 
     are filed with appropriate fees not later than two years 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (d) Reduction of Immigrant Visa Numbers.--Upon the granting 
     of immigrant visas or permanent residence to Esidronio 
     Arreola-Saucedo, Maria Elena Cobian Arreola, Nayely Arreola 
     Carlos, and Cindy Jael Arreola, the Secretary of State shall 
     instruct the proper officer to reduce by four, during the 
     current or next following fiscal year--
       (1) the total number of immigrant visas that are made 
     available to natives of the country of birth of Esidronio 
     Arreola-Saucedo, Maria Elena Cobian Arreola, Nayely Arreola 
     Carlos, and Cindy Jael Arreola under section 203(a) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(a)); or
       (2) if applicable, the total number of immigrant visas that 
     are made available to natives of the country of birth of 
     Esidronio Arreola-Saucedo, Maria Elena Cobian Arreola, Nayely 
     Arreola Carlos, and Cindy Jael Arreola under section 202(e) 
     of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1152(e)).
       (e) PAYGO.--The budgetary effects of this Act, for the 
     purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 
     2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest 
     statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' 
     for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional 
     Record by the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, 
     provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 
     vote on passage.

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