This is an archive of an Obama Administration account maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For more information please visit https://www.obamalibrary.gov/research/archived-white-house-websites-and-social-media#socialmedia
I am writing to express gratitude for you having extending an invitation to Maná to the White House on Cinco de Mayo. […] My grandfather and parents came to the United States of America as Mexican immigrants to offer me the opportunity of a better life and I am beyond grateful for their sacrifices. Their sacrifices allowed me to obtain a high school education, which none of them were given the opportunity to do so. Upon graduating high school, I was awarded the Gates Millennium Scholarship that allowed me to cultivate my education and earn two bachelors degrees. Last summer, I moved from the west coast to the DC area, and I am currently earning a masters of public health in global environmental health at The George Washington University with the help of the Gates Millennium scholarship. I am sharing this because I hope that my experience shows how Mexicans are not bring problems to the United States of America, but instead are contributing in a myriad of beneficial ways. My story is only one. We have many stories of our contributions to the United States of America, and Maná is a beautiful representation of such contributions. Thus, through you having extended an invitation to Maná, I feel as if the rest of us have also been invited to celebrate the contributions of Mexicans to this country at the White House.
“I am proud to live in America and be part of a free society that cares for one another, to live in a diverse country where the basic rights of a person are respected, and where the goals and dreams of an individual are not constrained by any factor other than the individual’s own will.” —Cesar Mendoza writing to President Obama in October after every member of his family became an American citizen
Events like these, and stories like Cesar’s, remind us that we are a nation of immigrants—one that finds strength in our diverse heritage and welcoming spirit. Over the course of our history, immigrants have contributed to our social and cultural fabric and been critical to our continued economic prosperity.
According to the most recent estimates, there are approximately 8.8 million lawful permanent residents who are living in the United States and eligible to apply for citizenship. Earlier this year, the President unveiled the “Stand Stronger” Citizenship Awareness Campaign to promote the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of citizenship among these eligible lawful permanent residents and to build a volunteer corps that will support them throughout the naturalization process.
Last November, President Obama announced a package of administrative actions, within his authority, to reform our broken immigration system. These included steps to modernize and streamline the legal immigration system, welcome and integrate immigrants into our communities, and focus the Department of Homeland Security’s enforcement efforts on the greatest threats to our national security, public safety, and border security.
The President has also repeatedly called on Congress to pass the kind of comprehensive immigration reform supported by a majority of the American people. As many of us celebrate Thanksgiving with our families this week, letters like Sophie’s should remind us of the millions of immigrants in the country living with the consequences of the broken system – and the need for Congress to act.
“My story is that of a 21st Century immigrant. I was born in Africa. My family fled a civil war and sought refuge in Europe. In 2006 I moved to the United States where, for the first time I felt at home. This is after all the land of immigrants; the land of opportunity.” —Minneapolis City Council Member Abdi Warsame writing to President Obama
“The reasons that so many immigrants came to America are the same reasons that each and every one of us should feel grateful for — freedom — freedom of religion — to escape poverty and oppression — a better future for our families. In short — opportunity.”
This is an archive of an Obama Administration account maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For more information please visit https://www.obamalibrary.gov/research/archived-white-house-websites-and-social-media#socialmedia
Twitter