Locals applaud Obama's immigration policy change
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Undocumented students are celebrating the President Barack Obama’s
announcement Friday that his administration will stop deporting, and begin giving work permits to, younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives
The president’s election-year policy change will stop deportation of young illegal immigrants who came into the U.S. before the age of 16.
"It makes no sense to expel talented young people who are, for all intents and purposes, Americans," President Obama said.
Diana Morales is a sophomore at the University of Texas. The news stuck a personal chord with her.
"I just read the report about it and I started crying because it was so overwhelming," Morales said. "I am an undocumented student."
Morales said the fear of deportation is always on her mind.
"Ever since I finished high school I have been scared of being deported," she said.
Friday’s political shift is something East Austin activist Jose Velasquez with Hermanos De East Austin believes should have happened long ago.
"It's been long overdue and it speaks volumes about the president's commitment to equality and diversity," Velasquez said.
However, not everyone is happy with President Obama’s decision. Republicans spoke out against the immigration policy all day long.