Speaker. today. I introduced a bill crucial to Jessica Koch. a high school senior in my district. This bill will provide for the permanent legal residency of this wellrounded. ambitious girl whose world has been irrevocably changed after recently discovering her status as an illegal immigrant. Jessica came to this country with a tourist visa in 1981. Shortly thereafter. when she was 18 months old. she was abandoned by her biological mother. the only parent she had ever known. Fortunately. she was taken into the caring home of David and Diane Miller. who were awarded legal custody of her when she was 5. Oblivious of her status as an illegal immigrant. the Millers raised her. supported her. and cared for her as one of their own. It was not until this year that Jessicas life and hopes for a successful future were turned upsidedown. On August 13. Jessica went to replace a lost Social Security card that the Millers obtained for her when they were given custody. She was stunned when she was denied a card and was told she was an illegal immigrant. Until that moment Jessica took pride in acting as a responsible citizen by working parttime while in school and registering to vote. Now. upon learning of her illegal status. she was forced to stop working to help support herself.
Keywords matched
visa illegal immigrant