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Texans bring a unique perspective to immigration

Texans bring a unique perspective to immigration

When Jorge Martinez, coalitions director of The LIBRE Initiative-Texas, writes about immigration, it’s often personal.

In a new op-ed in the Houston Chronicle, he cites all the statistics, marshals data to make his argument, and highlights public polling showing Americans support a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers.

And he talks about Hector Molina, the guy who fixed his air conditioning.

“He was brought here 20 years ago, when he was a young teenager,” Martinez writes.

He attended middle school and high school here. Now 35, Molina has a wife, three kids, and an air conditioning and heating company. He’s the leader of the men’s group at our church and the lead drummer in the church worship band.

Molina is one of almost 5 million Texans, 17 percent of the population, who are immigrants. His place in America is at risk if Congress doesn’t act.

“With yet another surge at the border and the subject of immigration reform front and center, lawmakers have a unique opportunity,” writes Martinez.

Instead of exploiting division, they can come together on the broad common ground shared by the vast majority of Americans who believe that strengthening our immigration system would also strengthen our country.

In the Chronicle, Martinez calls on Senator John Cornyn and Rep. Henry Cuellar, who have been leading voices in search of a solution over several years, to seize the moment to make progress.

Hector Molina, he writes, deserves a lasting solution.

Read the whole thing. Then, tell Congress it’s time for immigration reform.