On the recordJune 11, 2013
it is important that everyone keeps their word. I am pleased the Republican leader acknowledged that the immigration system is broken and needs fixing, and we will have a full and open debate on this over the next 3 weeks. That is very good. I am very glad to hear the Republican leader will vote to help us move forward on this legislation. For 15 years, James Courtney fought for this country as a Member of the U.S. Army. He did that for a decade and a half. For most of those 15 years, James' wife Sharon was at home in Las Vegas fighting being deported. She has lived in America since she was a young teenager. She speaks fluent English. She has three sons with her husband James, and he has been her husband for 13 years. She has supported James through three tours of duty in Iraq where he was wounded significantly, suffered brain injury, and because of his wounds had to retire medically from the military. But because she is in the United States without the proper paperwork, she has lived with the fear that she, on any given day, would be deported back to Mexico and her family would be torn apart. Servicemembers and veterans of the U.S. military--and their family members who support them--deserve a better life than worry and fear. In March, just a few weeks ago, James and Sharon came to Washington. They came with hundreds of other immigrants who are concerned about being deported. They are concerned about immigration reform.…





