Raúl Grijalva: “today, we rightly honor the hard work and achievements of this year's valedictorians, salutatorians and graduates all…”

“today, we rightly honor the hard work and achievements of this year's valedictorians, salutatorians and graduates all across the Nation. I wish to recognize their dedication and the contributions to their community. By completing a high school diploma, the future for these students has become considerably brighter. I also wish to take a moment to reflect on largo group of valedictorians, salutatorians and graduates who, despite high school success and graduation, will be shut out of many of the opportunities for a prosperous future that we promise to our children for their hard work. I am referring to the many valedictorians, salutatorians and graduates who have worked hard in the communities they have known their whole lives, played by the rules, excelled in school and, because of their undocumented status, will be systematically cut off from the opportunities that are afforded to successful students like them. Through no fault of their own, these bright, intelligent, model students will be caught in limbo--denied an opportunity to pursue success and, in so doing, to serve our country. These students are confronted with a lesson that high schools do not teach--that because of a status that was not of their choosing, their achievements are worth less than the achievements of their friends and classmates.”