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CHARLOTTE, NC – Local Latino families are celebrating as President Obama signs executive actions to reform what he calls a broken immigration system.Β
Those actions will give temporary legal status and work permits to roughly five million currently undocumented immigrants.
Latino families at a rally in Uptown Charlotte Friday say President Obama’s plan is a good first step– but they’re still waiting to see what Congress is going to do.
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For 13 years, Jessica Contreras has worried about her father being deported. She’s spent years rallying and protesting in Charlotte to keep her family together.
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“Now we know that if it does go through and everything works out, that he’ll be safe and we won’t have to worry about that anymore,” said Contreras.
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Like dozens of others who held signs and chanted at the rally, Contreras knows the fight is not over.Β
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“I want to work with both parties to pass a more permanent legislative solution,” said Obama.Β
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“The President has chosen to deliberately sabotage any chance of enacting bipartisan reforms, said House Speaker John Boehner.
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Republicans says the President is overstepping his authority by bypassing Congress.
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“We need to do everything we can to try to limit and restrict and stop what the President is doing,” said U.S. Representative Robert Pittenger.
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“All that stuff is partisan politics. The President has full, legal authority to hold and order an action like this,” said Armando Bellmas, with the Latin American Coalition.
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Bellmas admits the President’s immigration actions are only “hope” at this point.
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“We’re believing God everything is going to be okay for us,” said Luis Calix.
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Luis Calix immigrated to America eight years ago. He calls Charlotte home and makes a living coaching kids at a soccer academy in Charlotte. Like others at the rally, Calix hopes Congress will pass an immigration bill.
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“Hopefully all my other people like me will get our papers soon,” said Calix.
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Activists are warning undocumented immigrants about people promising to get them legal status in exchange for up to $2,000. No one can guarantee status.Β
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