What This New Immigration Plan Means To Latino Families

Share this story:

President Obama addressed the nation yesterday to announce steps that would allow millions of undocumented immigrants to live and work in the U.S. legally. The plan will address those who have lived in this country for more than five years and “have children who are American citizens or legal residents,” the President said, and also require them to pass a criminal background check and pay taxes.

Although the plan is only temporary and is not a direct path to citizenship, it is a step that millions of undocumented immigrants have been dreaming of; a step that would allow them to work, drive, and provide for their families without constantly looking over their shoulder in fear of deportation.

Over the course of a year, Youth Radio’s been covering immigration through the lens of young people covered under DACA. Today, many young Latinos took to Twitter to respond to the President’s announcement.

Diane Guerrero, 28-year-old actress of “Orange Is the New Black,” whose parents were deported back to Columbia while she was in school, expressed her gratitude.

Others expressed their concerns, too.

Today, President Obama was in Las Vegas to discuss his immigration plan. On Twitter, the President has started using a new hashtag slogan, #PassABill, in hopes of pushing Congress for a more defined immigration bill that could serve as a road to citizenship, but most importantly a road to permanent status:

Listen Now