On Thanksgiving immigrants thank Obama for acting on immigration
This Thanksgiving, millions of undocumented immigrants are saying thanks to President Barack Obama for delivering on his promise to offer them relief from deportation and a…
About 100 people gathered to rally in support of President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration policy in Lafayette Square across from the White House on November 21, 2014 in Washington, DC. Obama announced last week a plan that would ease the threat of deportation for about 5 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
This Thanksgiving, millions of undocumented immigrants are saying thanks to President Barack Obama for delivering on his promise to offer them relief from deportation and a chance to work legally.
Gina Sanchez, a single mother living in Arizona, is one of them. She qualifies for the protections the president is offering through executive action because she has a 13-year-old son who is a U.S. citizen.
Im thankful that the president took action, she said in an interview with VOXXI. This is a big step that he took.
She found out she qualifies last Thursday night when she and dozens of others from an advocacy group called Promise Arizona gathered outside Arizonas Capitol building to watch Obama on a large screen unveil the actions he was taking on immigration.
SEE ALSO: Support for Obamas executive actions among Latinos is staggering
Speaking from the White House, the president said he was going to defer the deportation of undocumented immigrants whove been living in the U.S. for at least five years and have children who are either U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
Gina Sanchez, an undocumented mother, spoke to VOXXI from her used furniture store. She said she’s thankful that Obama acted on immigration. (VOXXI/Griselda Nevarez)
Sanchez said she thanks the president for taking action on immigration because shell now be protected from deportation and given a work permit, which she plans to use to expand her small business. She owns a used furniture store in Phoenix.
But when asked if shell have an even more special Thanksgiving this year knowing shell no longer have to fear being deported and separated from her son, she became teary-eyed.
I never have a Thanksgiving dinner because I think that is something you do with your family, and my family is not here, she said. I only live with my son, and we always spend that day watching television.
Sanchez explained that when she first immigrated illegally to the United States 16 years ago, she left her 8-month-old and 3-year-old daughters under the care of her mother in Mexico. She said she did it because she wanted to find a job in the U.S. so that she could provide a better future for her daughters, who are now 17 and 20 years old.
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Sanchez said she wants to feel free and to be able to travel to Mexico to be reunited with her daughters, whom she hasnt seen ever since she came to live here. But she knows its unlikely shell be able to do that through Obamas executive actions. Thats why she said shes motivated to keep pushing for an immigration reform that will allow her to pursue a path to citizenship.
She added that what also motivates her to keep fighting for an immigration reform is the fact that many people wont qualify for protection under Obamas executive actions.
Sanchez recalled feeling happy last Thursday after learning she will qualify for Obamas executive actions. However, she said she couldnt celebrate knowing that many of her friends wont. She said that now she feels an even bigger commitment to keep fighting for the people who will still live in the shadows and in fear of being deported.
Were thankful that the president took this step, she said. But were also going to keep fighting for an immigration reform that is just and that will include everybody.
SEE ALSO: Why I spoke up at Obamas immigration speech last week
