Immigrant family, attorney react to Pres. Obama’s announcement

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — In a prime-time address Thursday, President Barack Obama announced through an Executive Order changes to immigration policy in the United States. The changes could make it easier to get a work permit to live in the country legally, as long as that person fits a certain criteria.

In the speech, President Obama said, “If you’ve been in America for more than five years; if you have children who are American citizens or legal residents; if you register, pass a criminal background check, and you’re willing to pay your fair share of taxes — you’ll be able to apply to stay in this country temporarily, without fear of deportation.”

For immigration attorney Helen Tarokic, the criteria makes sense, because she says there are many undocumented immigrants who live in the shadows but want to play by the rules and pay taxes.

“Enforcing deportation more on people who have a criminal history and the involvement of drugs and gangs, and moving the focus away from the removal of the parents of US citizens children — really other than coming here without a visa — haven’t been breaking laws since they have been here,” Tarokic said.

The Tar Heel State is home to more than 700,000 immigrants. According to immigrationpolicy.org, 7.3% of North Carolinians are foreign born. One such example is Perla Alvarez, who is living and working in the United States legally. Desperate for the American Dream, she came here with her mother when she was six. The journey, however, was far from a dream.

“It was domestic violence and my father bailed on us,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez now has three children of her own, all American citizens, but she is able to be in the states on a work permit. She came to Tarokic’s office after hearing the president’s speech, knowing that will change her mother’s future. Alvarez says she’s hopeful her mother will no longer have to live in fear and this will affect her life the way Alvarez’s life was changed when they escaped an unhealthy household.

“In the shadows like they say, yeah, it’s sad, but it’s what a lot of people have to do,” Alvarez said.

In the end, Alvarez hopes to become a citizen one day to complete her American Dream her mother started many years ago.