My name is Carine Martinez, and I am the director for the Secure & Sovereign Texas campaign at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research institute based in Austin, Texas. Thank you for the opportunity to submit this testimony in support of SJR 35. This subject is of particular importance to me as an immigrant, and a naturalized citizen of the United States.

I immigrated to the United States in 2011 and became an American citizen four years ago, in the great state of Texas. My American citizenship remains, to this day, my most cherished achievement.