Rep. Mike Levin Delivers House Floor Speech Against Senseless Deportation of Constituents
Rep. Mike Levin speaks about Gonzalez family deportation
Washington, D.C.- Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) delivered a speech on the House Floor against the deportation of Laguna Niguel constituents, Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez, who were deported to Colombia in February despite living in the U.S. for 35 years, raising a family, paying taxes, and having no criminal record.
Watch the full House Floor speech here. Full remarks below.
“M. Speaker, I rise today to speak for my constituents Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez.
“Thirty-five years ago, they came to the United States from Colombia in search of a better life.
“They tried to file for asylum but received bad legal advice from a now-disbarred attorney.
“They raised three daughters in Laguna Niguel, California, worked hard, paid taxes, and never got so much as a traffic ticket.
“For decades, they checked in with ICE voluntarily and were allowed to stay in the country.
“But this past February, while at their ICE appointment, they were detained, separated, and deported.
“Why was a family with no criminal history, no gang affiliation, three children, a new grandchild, why were they a priority for deportation?
“We should be using our resources to remove dangerous individuals — not those contributing positively to our society and to our economy.
“Not people like Nelson and Gladys Gonzalez.
“I’m all for a secure border, but what we’re seeing today is not the America that I know.
“Thank you. And I yield back.”
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