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Illegal immigrants rally at White House, thank Obama for deportation reprieve Illegal immigrants rally at White House, thank Obama for deportation reprieve
(35 minutes later)
On the day after President Obama’s historic announcement of a plan to protect millions of illegal immigrants from deportation, hundreds of Latino activists and families gathered in front of the White House Friday afternoon to express their gratitude — and also vow to press Congress to finish the job.On the day after President Obama’s historic announcement of a plan to protect millions of illegal immigrants from deportation, hundreds of Latino activists and families gathered in front of the White House Friday afternoon to express their gratitude — and also vow to press Congress to finish the job.
“The decision of the president is going to change the lives of 5 million people forever,” said Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA de Maryland and Virginia, the major regional advocacy group for illegal immigrants, shortly before the rally. “Today is a day for all of us to celebrate and thank him for delivering on his promise. We are all very touched and moved by what he has done.”“The decision of the president is going to change the lives of 5 million people forever,” said Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA de Maryland and Virginia, the major regional advocacy group for illegal immigrants, shortly before the rally. “Today is a day for all of us to celebrate and thank him for delivering on his promise. We are all very touched and moved by what he has done.”
At the same time, Torres said Friday will be the “last day of celebration,” because the immigrant community needs to turn its attentions immediately to Congress and the unfinished business of comprehensive immigration reform.At the same time, Torres said Friday will be the “last day of celebration,” because the immigrant community needs to turn its attentions immediately to Congress and the unfinished business of comprehensive immigration reform.
“We need to get ready to continue the fight,” said Torres, whose organization is one of five groups sponsoring the rally in Lafayette Square. “We have made history, but we cannot wait, because millions of people have still not gotten the help they need. We need to start pushing the Republican Party really hard to pass a bill.”“We need to get ready to continue the fight,” said Torres, whose organization is one of five groups sponsoring the rally in Lafayette Square. “We have made history, but we cannot wait, because millions of people have still not gotten the help they need. We need to start pushing the Republican Party really hard to pass a bill.”
Some immigrants at the rally, which was attended by about 200 to 300 people, expressed mixed emotions about Obama’s announcement. They said they were grateful for his efforts but disappointed that the president had stopped short of legalizing several million other people, including many adults with no children and others whose children were legalized under his 2012 order.Some immigrants at the rally, which was attended by about 200 to 300 people, expressed mixed emotions about Obama’s announcement. They said they were grateful for his efforts but disappointed that the president had stopped short of legalizing several million other people, including many adults with no children and others whose children were legalized under his 2012 order.
Alejandra Sanchez, 42, a woman from Arizona with two legalized children, fasted outside the White House for more than a week to call attention to the plight of such “dreamer moms.” On Friday, she said she felt admiration for Obama but also “a little disillusioned.” Kevin Escobar, a 17-year-old who cross the border eight months ago to be reunited with his mother in the District, said young people like him would also like to get some relief.
“I am happy for the people who will benefit from this, and will get their papers, but there are many others who are here in search of safety and a better future,” said Escobar, who said he left his native El Salvador to escape from the violent killing of young children.
“You are at risk of dying just because you are young,” he said. “I had no other choice, but to come here.”
His mother, who has been in the United States for 11 years, won’t qualify under Obama’s plan, he said. “She has worked hard and has paid her taxes but she is not covered because I wasn’t born here.”
Alejandra Sanchez, 42, a woman from Arizona with two legalized children, fasted outside the White House for more than a week to call attention to the plight of “dreamer moms” like her. On Friday, she said she felt admiration for Obama but also “a little disillusioned.”
She held up a poster that was printed with a message thanking the president, but she had written on it in Spanish, “Why did you leave out 6 million.”She held up a poster that was printed with a message thanking the president, but she had written on it in Spanish, “Why did you leave out 6 million.”
The president’s action is expected to benefit about 4 million of the nation’s estimated 11 million illegal immigrants.The president’s action is expected to benefit about 4 million of the nation’s estimated 11 million illegal immigrants.
Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants in the Washington region, mostly from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, are expected to benefit from Obama’s action, either because they are parents of U.S.-born children or because they arrived in the country as children.Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants in the Washington region, mostly from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, are expected to benefit from Obama’s action, either because they are parents of U.S.-born children or because they arrived in the country as children.
CASA officials have predicted that up to 100,000 people in the area will obtain a three-year reprieve from deportation next year after applying to immigration officials. Under Obama’s plan, they will need to provide proof of a clean police record and their years of residency in the United States, as well as pay several hundred dollars in fees. Immigration offices are expected to begin receiving applications in six months.CASA officials have predicted that up to 100,000 people in the area will obtain a three-year reprieve from deportation next year after applying to immigration officials. Under Obama’s plan, they will need to provide proof of a clean police record and their years of residency in the United States, as well as pay several hundred dollars in fees. Immigration offices are expected to begin receiving applications in six months.
In a statement early Friday, CASA said the rally would be attended by several Latino families who will either benefit from Obama’s action or are not being covered by it and risk deportation for at least one family member. A few feet away from the rally, a protester in military fatigues shouted through a bullhorn, “You are all illegal” and “Obama is the number one coyote,” using a word for guides who smuggle migrants into the U.S. The man refused to identify himself to a reporter.
As the rally got underway, scores of immigrants unfurled a banner in front of the White House fence, saying “Thank you President Obama” and chanting, “Barack, we have your back!”
But a few feet away, a protester in military fatigues shouted through a bullhorn, “You are all illegal” and “Obama is the number one coyote,” using a word for guides who smuggle migrants into the U.S. The man refused to identify himself to a reporter.
Obama was not in the White House on Friday. He was in Las Vegas to attend a rally supporting his initiative.Obama was not in the White House on Friday. He was in Las Vegas to attend a rally supporting his initiative.
Among the beneficiaries scheduled to come to the rally are Peter and Marlene Uribe, a couple from Maryland who immigrated in 1997 from Chile with a daughter, now 17, who won deferred deportation under Obama’s 2012 action, and a younger daughter who was born in the United States, enabling the couple to quality for Obama’s new order. In a statement early Friday, CASA said the White House rally would be attended by several Latino families who will either benefit from Obama’s action or are not being covered by it and risk deportation for at least one family member.
Another immigrant CASA said hopes to be covered by his action is Catia Paz, who came from El Salvador in 2003, graduated from high school, worked continuously and bought a home in Maryland. Her husband has legal status, and their two daughters were born in the United States, but she faces a deportation order that will take effect in May unless she is able to successfully apply for Obama’s plan. Shivering, four young mothers in the crowd huddled together for warmth, each one with a baby carriage covered in plastic against the cold. They had arrived on a bus from Baltimore as part of an immigrant advocate group.
One of the mothers, Alexandra Gonzalez, 26, said each of their young children had been born in the U.S., and that now all four friends would be able to apply for legalization as the parents of U.S. Citizens.
“This is a dream come true for all of us,” said Gonzalez, 26, an illegal immigrant from Mexico who makes artistic decorations and works as a school volunteer but has never been able to work legally. “There are no words. . . . I am just so happy.”
Francisco Diaz, 40, an activist from Florida who spent much of the past several weeks with protesters in Lafayette Square, came to the rally early and said he planned to return to Miami Saturday to start preparing immigrants there to apply for deferred deportation under Obama’s plan.Francisco Diaz, 40, an activist from Florida who spent much of the past several weeks with protesters in Lafayette Square, came to the rally early and said he planned to return to Miami Saturday to start preparing immigrants there to apply for deferred deportation under Obama’s plan.
“We don’t want anyone to miss out on this chance,” he said. “People will need to start gathering documents, and we also want to tell them to watch out for lawyers and notaries who will try to cheat them.”“We don’t want anyone to miss out on this chance,” he said. “People will need to start gathering documents, and we also want to tell them to watch out for lawyers and notaries who will try to cheat them.”