Advocates For Immigrants Call Obama Action ‘Step In Right Direction’
President Barack Obama pauses while speaking about the situations in Iraq and in Ferguson, Mo., Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, in Edgartown, Mass., during his family vacation on the island of Martha's Vineyard. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Advocates for immigrants in Central Illinois are calling President Obama’s expected actions on immigration a step in the right direction.
Obama plans to bypass Congress and spare as many as 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation.
Ricardo Diaz is with the Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum. He says Congressional action is needed to bring permanent change to US immigration policy. “This is temporary relief of fear of the heartache that goes on in so many houses," he says. "People don’t know that you won’t accept help from an agency because you might have to give your name and address and if you have to give your name and address something might happen.”
15th Congressional District Congressman John Shimkus signed onto a letter to President Obama urging him to reconsider unilateral action.
Obama will address the nation Wednesday at 7pm. That speech will air live on WILL AM 580.