Mr. Speaker. when U.S. District Court Judge Alan Sharp swore in 93yearold Pasqualina Acito as a naturalized citizen. Mrs. Acito. a great great grandmother. originally came to this Nation in 1915 the same way Christopher Columbus did. by boat. with her brother. She married in Chicago a few months later. but because of questions about her citizenship she recently was threatened with deportation hearings. Fortunately. my office was able to intervene successfully and Mrs. Acito last week was able to become a citizen of the United States. She brought tears to the room. crowded with media and onlookers. when upon being presented with a flag by my office. said. "God bless America." To leave ones homeland in search of new discoveries and new lives is something few of us can understand. Mrs. Acito does. and so do millions of immigrants to this Nation. I am proud of the contributions and successes of Italian Americans. and I hope my colleagues will join me in honoring them on Columbus Day.9
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immigrants deportation naturalized