The United States of America is the wealthiest and most powerful nation to have ever existed and we are lucky to call it home. We never could have achieved this feat without the continued contributions of our immigrant and refugee community. So many of our innovators, leaders, service members, esssential workers, and change agents have been/are immigrants and refugees.

I'm proud to come from a family of Mexican immigrants that believes in the American dream and the promise of our country. In the 1950's mí abuelo (Luis Franco) emigrated from Mexico to join the U.S. Army where he earned his citizenship and later established the Franco family here in the United States. My father (Federico Franco) and I followed in his footsteps joining the U.S. Army after graduating from college. Every generation of my family has served our nation faithfully in the military as well as our public and private sectors. Now, I'm fortunate to have four kiddos of my own to raise in the country we call home. Unfortunately, our kids are growing up in a time where our immigrant and refugee community is being demonized and attacked. Our nation was once a beacon of hope for those looking to escape the horrors of this world and the opportunity to help forge a more perfect union. It's up to us to ensure that our nation, once defined by its willingness to welcome all people, is restored.

Please join me by standing in solidarity with our immigrant and refugee community during these unprecedented times. Let us show the world that we are still committed to what humanity can achieve when we stand together. We are OneAmerica.