President Obama’s executive action on immigration could affect as many as five million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. Jose Luis Piscil, an undocumented stone worker from Mexico who lives in New Haven, has been in the U.S. for eight years. He has no criminal record, and is in the midst of deportation proceedings.
As Piscil's two young U.S.-citizen children ran around the lobby of New Haven City Hall on Thursday evening, just before the president's announcement, Piscil said he was thrilled at the prospect that he might soon qualify for a new deferred action program.
The president's action does extend to parents of U.S.-citizen children, like Piscil. He’ll apply now to stay in the U.S.
Piscil called President Obama’s announcement an important step forward, but said he recognizes that there will be many people who will not qualify. As the immigrant community begins to emerge from the shadows, Piscil said he expects people to unite in their push for further immigration reform.
