New Federal Deportation Policy Re-Ignites Immigration Debate

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by Kirk Hawkins/Marvin Beach, Photojournalist

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--Vianey Hernandez is getting ready to file paperwork for deferred action.
The Mint Hill resident said,"I think it's an open door and I'm taking it."

The Latin American Coalition said the 21-year-old is one of 10-thousand undocumented  immigrants in Charlotte eligible for the new federal immigration policy. It delays deportation while giving young adults the ability to obtain a driver's license, worker's permit and pay in state tuition at local universities.

"It's like you start a book and you know it's gonna end somewhere. It's hard," said Hernandez.
When the policy expires in two years, Hernandez and others worry about what could happen. Jess George of the Latin American Coalition said, "There is this fear, now I'm revealing myself to come out in the shadows with the hope that we can become welcome and embraced and truly American."

Daniel Rufty will be a delegate at the Republican National Convention in Tampa. He said the politically motivated "amnesty" will impact the unemployed. "If you come here illegally, you should get deported. That's what our laws are there for. We have a limited amount of jobs and we want to
limit the people who can get those jobs."

Hernandez looks forward to continuing to study Physics and French while volunteering at multiple charities in the town she's called home since her parents moved here from Mexico City 13 years ago. "I shouldn't just stop here, I don't think I should stop I should keep going," she said.

The program is for immigrants 15 to 31 years old...who have been in the U.S. for at least five years, are in school, and don't have a criminal record. The Latin American Coalition said there are 31 thousand eligible immigrants in North Carolina.

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