- Title: USA: In California and Arizona, emotional reaction to new immigration rules.
- Date: 16th June 2012
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 15, 2012) (REUTERS) SIGN READING "OBAMA STOP DEPORTING OUR YOUTH" STUDENT HOLDING SIGN CLOSE UP OF IMMIGRATION T-SHIRT STUDENTS STANDING AND TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JUSTINO MORA, UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT AT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - LOS ANGELES, SAYING: "It is excellent news. It brings a lot of happiness for a lot of immigrant families and students that desire to continue their education and want to contribute to the economy and their communities. They want to search for the opportunity to move forward with their studies. This is a step in the right the direction to legalize the people who live in this country with out documents. We want to tell President Obama that we're happy but he needs to continue to implement federal laws." (SOUNDBITE) (English) NESTOR PIMIENTA, STUDENT AT LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY, SAYING: "Undocumented students are an investment in America because they're Americans at heart and try so hard despite all the obstacles, despite all the limitations to contribute to as much as they possible can. So we should support legislation that will continue to contribute." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ALEX CHAVEZ, UNDOCUMENTED UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, FRESNO STUDENT, SAYING: "It gave me a lot of pleasure that he is listening to us. I believe that that is one step but in reality we want the whole package: the federal Dream Act. We want to be citizens, we want to participate in democracy, and we want to be able to vote and participate in this country." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PABLO REYES, STUDENT, SAYING: "There's still a lot to do because our final goal is to have immigration reform that includes everyone that is here, undocumented. taking actions like the Dream Act causes a domino effect for wider immigration reform." STUDENTS TALKING WIDESHOT OF STUDENTS GATHERED
- Embargoed: 1st July 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVAE6RJL1YC174H60EAHBKH5TJCH
- Story Text: Across the United States, people reacted to the announcement that the Obama Administration was moving to spare many young illegal immigrants from deportation on Friday (June 15).
In Southern California, some students, like Justino Mora, an undocumented student at UCLA, welcomed the news.
"It brings a lot of happiness for a lot of immigrant families and students that desire to continue their education and want to contribute to the economy and their communities. They want to search for the opportunity to move forward with their studies," Mora said.
"This is a step in the right the direction to legalize the people who live in this country with out documents. We want to tell President Obama that we're happy but he needs to continue to implement federal laws," he added.
To be eligible for the new enforcement rules, a person must have come to the United States under the age of 16 and have resided in the country for at least five years. They must be in school or have graduated from high school or be honorably discharged from the U.S. military. They must also be free of convictions of felony or significant misdemeanor offenses.
In southern California, some students in southern California responded positively to the announcement from President Barack Obama's administration that the government will stop deporting some illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children.
The new policy will affect about 800,000 young illegal immigrants. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that illegal immigrants up to 30 years old who came to the United States as children and do not pose a risk to national security would be eligible to stay in the country and allowed to apply for work permits.
The policy was announced a week before President Barack Obama, seeking re-election on November 6, is due to speak to a meeting of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials in Florida. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney also is set to address the group next week.
For student Alex Chavez, Obama's televised announcement from the White House Rose Garden is only the first step.
"In reality we want the whole package: the federal Dream Act. We want to be citizens, we want to participate in democracy and we want to be able to vote and participate in this country," Chavez said.
Meanwhile, in Phoenix, Arizona, a group of people gathered to watch the president's remarks broke out in applause at his announcement.
One female openly wept while another nodded in agreement as Obama spoke. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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