A group of seven DREAMers were invited to speak to President Obama in the Oval Office about the toll of the current immigration system, while emphasizing how their lives have changed thanks to deferred action.
According to a White House statement, “the President reiterated his commitment to passing a bipartisan, commonsense immigration reform bill this year […] an important step towards the broad principles that need to be part of any immigration reform package.”
Roughly 300,000 DREAMers to date have had the threat of deportation against them lifted, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The Obama administration announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy last June and it went into effect in mid-August. Since then, the program has allowed Dreamers to work legally, obtain driver’s licenses, and temporarily be protected from the possibility of deportation at any time.
Melissa McGuire-Maniau, a U.S. citizen born in Puerto Rico, shared the story behind her Mexican-born husband who has gone through decades of hardship – including detention – though he tried to do everything right. Other immigrants from South Korea and Morocco shared their stories with Obama as well.
“He was very moved,” says McGuire-Maniau. “He says his commitment is unwavering and he wants to get immigration reform done.”
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