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By Maria Cervantes and Greg Smith

Special to the Mercury News

Immigration is about families -- children and parents, workers and worshipers, neighbors and friends.

The PACT: People Acting in Community Together immigration team feels like family. We work together for immigration reform, and over the years we have developed strong bonds.

This debate is often centered on economics and politics, but the consequences of this broken system fall on families. Immigration reform is good for the economy. According to the North American Integration and Development Center, Administrative Relief -- President Obama's executive action -- will bring in new federal tax revenue of over $2.6 billion in two years, not counting what will go to individual states. It will increase the GDP, decrease the federal deficit and increase average wages.

The two of us represent different perspectives on immigration: one, a mother eligible for Administrative Relief and the other, an African-American engineer born in the United States. Our stories may seem different, but our conclusion is the same: People need a pathway to citizenship so families can live with dignity.

Last week, San Jose City Council joined the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors in filing an amicus brief to support the executive orders, underscoring how important this is to us locally. We're proud of Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren's defense of the president's action because, although it's not permanent protection, it is relief families deserve.

I am Maria, a mother of four who has lived in San Jose for 13 years. Nothing is more important to me than family.

I came to the United States as a young mother because where I lived in Mexico was so very dangerous that I could not see a future for my children. My husband, the oldest of his siblings, is the only one who did not get documents when his father immigrated. If I could have immigrated formally I would have done so, but no opportunity existed. Instead, we work hard, contribute through taxes and in our community and take no government benefits.

I am proud to see my children thriving. The two oldest are in college, benefiting from the Dream Act, and the younger ones, who were born here, are working toward that goal. I teach religious classes in my church, volunteer in my children's schools and work part time. My husband has worked for the same construction company since we've lived in San Jose. I am among the 118,000 people in Santa Clara County without documents or certainty of our future.

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Immigration reform: What hurts one, hurts us all - San ...