Deporting Felons Not Families, that was a key take away from President Obama’s address on immigration. The President could provide relief to as many as 5 million undocumented immigrants, some local people among that group say it’s long overdue.
Pizana came to the United States in 1996 from Talamantes, Chihuahua Mexico. She says she escaped an abusive husband and gave her first daughter a chance at a better life.
“Since I was a child I was abused. When I got married the abused continued. My life was very hard in reality in my life I have suffered a lot of abuse. Coming here was very difficult” she says
After wearing out a welcome staying with her brother in El Paso, Pizana met and married her second husband and gave birth to her second daughter Andrea who is an American citizen. But that marriage also turned violent.
“There was even more abuse domestic violence and emotional torment” she says
Catholic Charities Las Cruces immigration attorney Lauren Armstrong says it is a common scenario for women lacking legal status and basic English skills. And Armstrong says support services are harder to access in areas with border checkpoints.
“We have victims of domestic violence that live on the Otero side Chaparral community who can’t get to court for protections of order of protections from their abusers because they can’t get through the check point we have people that are terrified to call law enforcement” she says
After 7 years of cleaning houses for cash under the table with her eldest daughter Cynthia, Pizana was able to get out of the abusive situation. But only with the help people in the community, like a La Mesa farmer who took them in.
“The only reason we have made it all these years is he let us live her for free by taking care of the land and picking the Pecans “ she says.
Pizana says everyday she lives in fear of being deported and prays to God that she won’t be deported or separated from her daughters.
“If somebody doesn’t like you or somebody has a problem with you, it is the first thing that they want to do I am going to call immigration on you” she says
But Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE - never came, following two consecutive Obama executive directives in 2011, and then in 2012- ICE has prioritized the deportation of undocumented people with criminal backgrounds over families or those who came to the U.S. as children. The President broadened the reach of that policy last week.
“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” she says.
According to the Catholic Legal Immigration Network there are about 25,000 undocumented people living in just ten counties in southern New Mexico Attorney Armstrong says there as many as 10,000 undocumented immigrants like Pizana who may benefit from the President’s action.
“We came to this country to look for a better future for my daughter and a good education, we have been waiting for 19 years" she says
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWBk7nEwJsc&feature=youtu.be
The action doesn’t grant eligible undocumented immigrants like Soledad welfare benefits, green cards, citizenship or pathways to them- but it will provide work visas, a way to pay taxes and protections from deportation, though only temporarily.
Many Republicans like New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce are questioning the legality of Obama’s action and are calling it amnesty.
“We are rewarding behavior that is not in comport with the law and anytime you do that, that is an amnesty that is the official definition of amnesty when people do not - when they are not held accountable for their actions“ he says
According the US Department of State’s Visa bulletin eligible Mexican applicants for US residence are waiting between 18 and 20 years. Pearce says executive orders are not fair to the people waiting and may encourage illegal immigration.
But Pizana says people come to the U.S. to escape poverty and violence. Though she says living in the U.S. illegally is hard it’s better than Mexico where she wouldn’t be able to access domestic abuse counseling…or afford education or medicine for her daughters.
“I am very appreciative of this country, because my daughters can get ahead in life I always liked president Obama even though I couldn’t vote and my children are very appreciative” he says
Pizana says the temporary work visa will mean more clients and more money. She hopes to afford a better place to live and maybe a more reliable car. But she’s worried about the future and what will happen to her family when President Obama leaves office.
“No! They are not going to separate us. We are going to be together forever“ she says
All of Obama executive directives providing relief to undocumented immigrants could be rescinded by an immigration reform bill or by the next President .