ms. velasquez. ms. velasquez said that she did not think that there should be any difference between all of the 11 million people who are seeking to come here between herself and her mother, for example. but you know your parents and probably the parents of other people who have children who are not lawfully present in the united states. my question for you is these and other parents would be supportive of legislation that would allow your sister and other young people brought here at an early age to get legal status and ultimately u.s. citizenship but did not address their situation. in other words, the parents situation in the same way. >> you know, that has been such an incredibly difficult question to answer. my parents, like i'm sure any other parents, they want what is best for their children. you know, it is easy to say that yes, they would be very happy with that. but at the same time i can tell you that the pain of not having my mother with us is something that i really can't put into words. it

ms. velasquez.ike to thank chairman gowdy, and the distortion of this committee for the opportunity to testify. velazquez. rosa i am 30 years old. ever since i was five years old, arkansas has been my home. i am honored to be a member of the united we dream national coordinating committee. united we dream is the largest emigrant youth-let network in the country made up of 55 affiliates in 21 states. we are committed to winning citizenship for our families and communities. an immigration system that treats all americans with dignity, parents like my mother, who is 22 years old when we came to the u.s.. sadly, like so many other parents, her story has been forgotten. she made the courageous decision to travel alone with my four- year-old brother rudy and myself. i was five years old. my mother packed everything in a backpack, and in august we got in a plane in mexico city and arrived in dallas texas -- dallas, texas. my father would join the site year later. throughout my schooling i was involved in e

ms. velasquez. >> i would like to thank chairman gowdy, and the members of this committee for the opportunity to testify. the name is rosa velazquez. i am 30 years old. ever since i was five years old, arkansas has been my home. i am honored to be a member of the united we dream national coordinating committee. united we dream is the largest immigrant youth-let network in the country made up of 55 affiliates in 21 states. we are committed to winning citizenship for our families and communities. creating an immigration system that treats all americans with dignity, parents like my mother, who was 22 years old when we came to the u.s.. sadly, like so many other parents, her story has been forgotten. she made the courageous decision to travel alone with my four- year-old brother rudy and myself. i was five years old. my mother packed everything in a backpack, and in august we got in a plane in mexico city and arrived in dallas texas -- dallas, texas. my father would join the site year later. throughout