Political Quotes

“Mr. President, today I am reintroducing a bill for the private relief of Shirley Constantino Tan. Ms. Tan is a Filipina national living in Pacifica, CA. She is the proud mother of 20-year-old twin boys, Jashley and Joriene, who are U.S. citizens. She is married to Jay Mercado, a naturalized U.S. citizen. Ms. Tan faces deportation to the Philippines, which would separate her from her family and jeopardize her safety. I believe Ms. Tan merits Congress's special consideration for this extraordinary form of relief because her removal from the United States would cause serious, undue hardship for her and her family. Ms. Tan experienced horrific violence in the Philippines before she came to the United States. When she was only 14 years old, Ms. Tan's cousin murdered Ms. Tan's mother and sister and shot Ms. Tan in the head. The cousin was eventually prosecuted, but he received a short jail sentence. Fearing for her safety, Ms. Tan fled the Philippines just before her cousin was due to be released from jail. She entered the United States legally on a visitor's visa in 1989. Ms. Tan faces a deportation order because of negligent counsel. Ms. Tan applied for asylum in 1995. When her case went before the Board of Immigration Appeals, her attorney was supposed to file a brief in support of her case, but the attorney failed to do so. As a result, the Board of Immigration Appeals dismissed Ms. Tan's case and granted her voluntary departure from the United States. However, Ms.…”