Rep. Juan Vargas, Joined by Rep. Luis Gutierrez, to Host a Landmark Immigration Reform Testimonial Event
National City, CA (March 14, 2013) –Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) will host a non-denominational testimonial event that will bring to light the desperate need for immigration reform. Rep. Vargas will be joined by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (IL-04), Chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and longtime champion and advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. The event will be on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 1:00 PM at One in Christ Church located at 635 E. 7th St., National City, CA.
“It is an honor to be able to fight for our immigrant families alongside Rep. Gutierrez,” said Rep. Vargas. “My hope is that this event will clearly highlight the incredible need for immigration reform and will open the eyes and hearts of our colleagues in Congress. The personal stories we will hear will show that our broken immigration system indiscriminately rips apart families and destroys lives.”
Testimonials from students, military families, and refugees who have struggled with our current inefficient immigration system will be heard. Congressmen Vargas and Gutierrez will gather the stories and take them back to Congress as real, powerful examples of how lack of reform hurts people, our economy, and our country as a whole.
"When Rep. Vargas asked me to come to San Diego, I said yes in a heartbeat because he is a key ally in Congress fighting to fix our broken immigration system,” stated Rep. Gutierrez. “We are taking the stories of people around the country back to Washington so we have a face in our mind's eye when we deliberate immigration reform measures. Change only happens in Washington when people around the country demand it and Democrats and Republicans need to hear from their constituents, the voters, and those who aspire to be voters one day."
Vargas, whose parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico in the late 1940s as part of the Bracero Program, believes that a fair path to citizenship for unauthorized immigrants currently living in the United States is contingent upon securing our borders. Reforming our current legal immigration system will build the economy and strengthen American families by better recognizing the importance of an improved process.
Vargas represents the California 51st Congressional District which includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial County and California’s entire US/Mexico border. Vargas represented the 40th California State Senate District from 2010-2012, the 79th California State Assembly District from 2000 – 2006 and served on the San Diego City Council from 1993 – 2000.