Dear Friend,

At this moment, a central promise of America — exemplified by our national motto of e pluribus unum ("out of many, we are one") — is being put to the test.

I am committed to defending this promise. 

My family’s story can be summed up best by the words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

In 1945, my mom was born in a Nazi concentration camp. After U.S. soldiers liberated them, my grandparents and mom immigrated to the United States as refugees, and they were welcomed. Grounded by my family’s history and propelled by the opportunity America has provided me, I have chosen public service. My commitment to serve reflects my gratitude for my family’s only-in-America story — in one generation, I have come from a family of refugees to work as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, serve as a White House advisor for President Barack Obama, and be elected twice as your Attorney General.

I am committed to preserving our nation as a place where we see each other as neighbors, not "others." We are all part of — and the strength of — America. 

Let us all remember that if you are born here, the words of the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution extends this promise — you are an American. 

Earlier this summer, I joined the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association at their annual conference to discuss America’s promise of an inclusive republic and our history as a nation of immigrants. My talk was focused on this challenging moment for our republic and our spirit of e pluribus unum. It’s a 30 minute talk, so you will need a few minutes to view it. If you can take some time to watch it here and pass it on, I would be grateful.

Here in Colorado, I have seen our powerful spirit of inclusion and unity. After tragedies like the Club Q shooting, the attack on Jewish Coloradans in Boulder on June 1, and, more recently, the Evergreen High School shooting, communities of different traditions have come together to make clear that an attack against one of us is an attack against all of us. And we will not stand for it. 

Our nation is rejuvenated by immigrants like my grandparents and parents, and I believe that American stories like theirs will endure. Together, we must keep working towards that vision, knowing that our nation’s future depends on us finding a better path forward, and that our nation’s motto of e pluribus unum is worth fighting for.

I will always fight for that vision and our nation’s core values.

Phil