Immigration

Floor Speech

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, just last week our Nation celebrated Thanksgiving. It was a time for families across this Nation to unite and reflect on the things we are grateful for.

This Thanksgiving I looked around my holiday table and admired the diversity of my family, many of whom are natural born citizens, some naturalized citizens, and some Jamaican immigrants. We are a blended family blessed with the realization of our own American dream. I realized that my story enjoys a certain similarity to the first Thanksgiving celebration. Native Americans breaking bread with Pilgrims. A blending of two different cultures, one immigrant, one native.

Like my family, many families across this Nation are a blend of many cultures and citizen status and are affected by our dysfunctional immigration system.

Mr. Speaker, immigration reform is too important to be delayed. As we prepare to debate immigration reform, I'm working with my colleagues to ensure access to the American Dream. Just like you, I, too, am the face of immigration; all of us coming together representing the diversity of this great Nation, the United States of America.

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