Immigration groups have many questions about reform order
Green Bay - Local immigration programs are dealing with an influx of phone calls about President Obama's announced executive order. These programs still have questions about the immigration reform.
President Obama's announcement of immigration reform Thursday night was an anticipated message for Laurie Martinez.
"It's almost like you don't believe it until you actually see it," she said.
The Refugee/Immigrant Family Strengthening Services office in the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay works with families or individuals in 16 counties dealing with immigration. And since the president's announcement which would mean as many as 5 million immigrants in the U.S. would be able to legally stay -- Martinez's office has been getting a lot of questions.
"Right now, we really don't know what to expect," she admits. "I know people are calling and asking us, and at this point we just don't know. We, too, are kind of waiting for what's going to happen."
While details of this reform is still unknown, she thinks back to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals reform from 2012, known as the Dream Act, for some guidance.
"It was for people under 31 to prove they were here on a certain date, when did they arrive, and then they were granted these two-year work permits, and that's the thing, it's a work authorization, and it's just something that has to be renewed."
But right now it's just too early to tell what shape the latest reform will take, including when people can start applying.
"People are anxious to, probably thinking that they can apply. We don't even know the date when people are going to be able to submit these applications."
Here is the original post:
Immigration groups have many questions about reform order