Anticipating Obama's coming immigration push

(CBS News) MESA, Arizona - In his inaugural address Monday, President Obama touched only briefly on immigration reform. But in the next few weeks, he is expected to propose changes that would put millions of illegal immigrants on the path toward U.S. citizenship.

It could be one of the biggest challenges in his second term.

"We need this president to push as hard as he can, because Latinos care about immigration and the election showed it," said Erika Andiola, a well-known immigrant rights activist in Arizona. "Our families can no longer be separated."

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She crossed the border illegally from Mexico with her mother when she was 11 years old. She was asked what she would say to people who point out she entered illegally.

"Give us a chance to be in the country -- to give back to the country. I think a lot of us have a lot to contribute," Andiola said.

President Obama's deferred deportation program allows those who came illegally as children to work or study in the U.S.

"It would definitely be a dream come true if I was to become a citizen," Andiola said.

Erika Andiola, right, and her mother

/ CBS News

She recently lived every illegal immigrant's nightmare. Federal agents took her mother and brother from their home to be deported. Andiola jumped into activist mode. She posted a YouTube video about her experience.

Word went out on Twitter and Facebook.

"Just one organization was able to get 18,000 petitions in a matter of 12 hours.," Andiola said.

She even got members of Congress to call immigration authorities. Her brother and mother were released within 20 hours. Yet, Andiola points out, a record number of undocumented immigrants - almost 410,000 - were deported last year.

"This is why we need immigration reform," Andiola said. "I think it has to happen."

Hispanic political power helped release her mother -- helped elect a president -- and she's convinced it will forge a path to citizenship for millions like her and her mother.

[LoFaroNYG27]

Children that were born in this country, rather their parents were illegal immigrants or not deserve the chance to go to school and become productive members of society. This economy is not broken because of illegal immigrants, it is broken because of all the white trash United States citizens milking the welfare system. They crap out child after child out of wedlock, collect more and more benefits from the government and put more of a strain on the economy. This country was built on the backs of immigrants, the only people who are not immigrants are the Native Americans. If you think that giving children the opportunity to educate themselves, to become doctors, surgeons and save people's lives is wrong simply because their parents were not born in this country then you are a moron. Plain and simple. How many losers with parents that were born in this country are sitting on welfare right now? How many are straining the educational system by collecting financial aid and taking various classes that will not lead them to a career? They take Religion, Women's Studies, art history and animal husbandry all on the American tax payer's dollar. All of which, while being important issues individually, will lead them nowhere except an associates degree in six short years. If the children of immigrants want to go to school and become something, then I say more power to them. Maybe they'll make up for the good percentage of lazy children that we have who actually do have American born parents and are so unwilling to do anything that takes an effort that they get a celebration for simply filling out a college application. Same goes for immigrants in general, if they're here and actually busting their butts then I believe that they have earned the right to call themselves citizens of this great country. Oh how many Americans I know who sit on their sofa with a pack of Marlboros paid for by welfare money on their coffee table, a cold beer paid for with welfare money in their hand, a 40" LCD television set paid for by the outrageous tax refunds they received due to their ******** out of 10 children out of wedlock, a little puppy running around at their feet that they paid for with their welfare funds. They sit with grins on their faces, shoving junk food paid for by food stamps into their mouths. These are the people who should be getting NO HELP. And, don't get me wrong there are people who are simply less fortunate who NEED food stamps to feed themselves and their families. There are less fortunate people who NEED welfare to keep roofs over their heads and clothes on their backs. Those people are not who I am speaking of. I am speaking of the trash that is constantly pumping out more children for no reason other than more welfare and high tax refunds. Those pieces of garbage who are more times than not, unmarried and have children from several different fathers. Those are the people who need to be cut off and thrown to the curb with the rest of the garbage. These people who work, who actually bust their butts at real jobs simply to support themselves....regardless of where they were born deserve the right to call themselves citizens. And even more than that, children born in this country to parents who are not citizens deserve to realize the American dream. They deserve to do what so many American children seen incapable of doing, working hard to become something better and to realize a better life. That is my opinion and if you disagree with me then chances are that you are a republican and your opinion means ******** to me. That being said, I won't even bother coming back here. So don't waste your time typing up this long replying telling me all the reasons why you are right and I am wrong. Because I truly don't care about your opinion and I won't waste my time reading it.

[Housessmart]

The Imperial court of President Elect Obama will be in session very shortly and many issues are on the Congressional list. Heed the warning that in the coming days that he is adamant on pushing through some form of amnesty for the 10 to 20 million plus illegal aliens already in the United States. The majority of people who remain unconcerned with politics, means that that they are unaware that conventional methods of being voted on in the House of Representatives, is being bypassed under this regime and not following the edicts of the U.S. Constitution? First it was the lone Obama authority to give a free pass to children of illegal aliens, which has been called the Dream Act. With the origin of the Dream Act which is children being smuggled unborn or in infancy across the thin, poorly guarded borders and agents unable to detect pregnant women arriving by plane from foreign countries that have arrived here for decades. Once on our soil they can gain as an inheritance citizenship for their progeny, which really was for the emancipation of slaves after the union and gray war. Americans must take fervent notice that their futures are in peril, with even more encouragement of illegal migrants and immigrants finding away to gain unauthorized entrance into our sovereign nation. In this 113 session of Congress the ardent listeners in other countries are going to try and reach the mainland.

Birthrights Citizenship is under constant bombardment by activists who believe an amendment to the 14th Amendment will save ultimately TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS. Citizenship given to children upon arrival is skyrocketing in free baby deliveries, free health care for all family members, and free education for all the children born now and later. Only the American citizens can financially reprieve us from this constant threat of females smuggling in their unborn and the U.S. Taxpayer carry the financial burden—without end. Then once the child applies automatic citizenship, it's hard to return the Mother to the country where she belongs. It's like a wordless guidebook of how to beat the welfare and immigration system, which eventually leaves to ILLEGAL CHAIN MIGRATION of the extended family. After more pregnancies the mother can collect substantial amounts of money for each child, plus low income housing. Then once settled, more relatives vanquish the border or alight undetected from a plane, this one way visitor, moves in with the family already here, finds a job and vanishes.

Then we have the unknown numbers of illegal aliens in the workplace, while at least 23 million American and residents are either looking for a job, or have no choice to work in part-time employment. This should not continue and citizens an permanent resident holding green cards, should contact their Senators or Congressmen/women and demand they bring to the floor of Congress, the mandatory E-Verify "LEGAL WORKFORCE BILL", so Washington must act of ridding illegal aliens who have your jobs. You can stand firm for all Americans by either using the Internet, your telephone book to see who is you servant locally, state or federal and make these laws active. Stop the special interests and Washington from selling you out. LEARN A LOT MORE AT JUDICIAL WATCH AND NUMBERSUSA.

ATTENTION: Obama lets Chinese own U.S. energy resources.
Beijing is acquiring major ownership in oil, natural gas across nation. (Dr. Jerome R. Corsi) - The Obama administration is quietly allowing China to acquire major ownership interests in oil and natural gas. The decision to allow China to compete for U.S. oil and natural gas resources appears to stem from a need to keep Beijing economically interested in lending to the U.S. The Obama administration has run $1-trillion-plus annual federal budget deficits since taking office that likely will continue in the second term. As World Net Daily reported Monday, Beijing has been developing a proposal in which real estate on American soil owned by China would be set up as "development zones" to establish Chinese-owned businesses and bring in its citizens to the U.S. to work. All this and more will be revealed at TEA PARTY.ORG.

[RKMctrog007]

we are not asking much, just the same imigration law that Mexico has. how can they b!tch and complain that it isn't fair if we give them the same that they would give us?
how much more fair could we be?

[RKMctrog007]

Here we go again
What part of illegal do these people and the freaky left not understand.
--------------
She even got members of Congress to call immigration authorities. Her brother and mother were released within 20 hours. Yet, Andiola points out, a record number of undocumented immigrants - almost 410,000 - were deported last year.
-------------

An illegal alien calls to get congress to release her illegal family.
And of course people were deported last year, they were illegal, they are criminals.

But I also read where she is hoping for the obama administration to help her become a citizen. Weren't we promised that wasn't going to happen?
Just another lie from his majesty, King Obama.

[LinuxL3w1s]

Could any sane person not realize that flooding ALL & ONLY White countries with non-Whites and telling everyone to "assimilate" to create a blended humanity is White genocide?

Africa will still be full of Africans and Asia will still be full of Asians.

Only White children will suffer from this.

It is genocide plain and simple!

Anti-racist is a codeword for anti-White.

[Commentator12]

I have absolutely no sympathy for these people at all. THEY ARE LAW BREAKERS AND CRIMINALS PERIOD. It is like having sympathy for a bank robber's family. The criminal must pay the price for the crime PERIOD. These illegal alien criminals also kill or murder 25 of us daily, rob us of jobs as well as billions from our municipal treasuries, and make a mockery of those from other countries who spent a lot of money and hard work to do it the right way.

It is time we stood up to the rule of law in this country and either obey the law or change it. Until then the current law is in effect and we need to OBEY.

By the way what we are doing in aiding and abetting them is committing a first class FELONY; yes I said FELONY. Just look the laws up on immigration and you will find it to be true.

No, I have no sympathy for your ilk. I WANT YOU OUT OF THIS COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY OR FACE PROSECUTION. Stop your stupid crocodile tears. If you had obeyed the law you wouldn't have to go through this. GET OUT AND STAY OUT until you and your ilk learn to obey our laws!!

[ThatOneGirl13]

Where do you get your facts about illegals "killing or murdering 25 of 'us' daily"? Who kills the other hundreds of thousands of American citizens who day every day? Oh, that right, other American Citizens. How are you going to tell somebody they needed to obey the law when they were just 11 when they arrived? Yes, her parents should have obeyed the laws, but guess what? Its obvious they didn't. I don't think the children should be punished for that. I certainly wouldn't stand for being punished for my parents crimes. I don't see many of them taking jobs from anybody honestly. I see a nation a lazy AMERICANS who would rather lay up on unemployment or welfare then to go to work everyday. It angers me to go to work every single day while these "Americans" apply for more unemployment and more welfare and then have the audacity to B*tch and complain about "illegals using the system" when many of them are guilty of that same crime. Ask me for my proof. I will gladly share it. I am proud to be an American, but reading a comment like yours sickens me.

[lgjhere]

Let's face it, this immigration thing is a 20th century issue that has slopped over into the 21st century. The time has come to finally resolve it in an intelligent fashion, as three-fourths of Americans favor and Obama will undoubtedly confront. An interesting new worldwide book/ebook that helps explain the role, struggles, and contributions of immigrants and minorities is "What Foreigners Need To Know About America From A To Z: How to understand crazy American culture, people, government, business, language and more." It paints a revealing picture of America for those who will benefit from a better understanding. Endorsed by ambassadors, educators, and editors, it also informs those who want to learn more about the last remaining superpower and how it compares to other nations on many issues.
As the book points out, immigrants and minorities are a major force in America, as Romney and the GOP recently discovered. Immigrants and the children they bear account for 60 percent of our nation's population growth and own 11 percent of US businesses and are 60 percent more likely to start a new business than native-born Americans. They represent 17 percent of all new business owners (in some states more than 30 percent). Foreign-born business owners generate nearly one-quarter of all business income in California and nearly one-fifth in the states of New York, Florida, and New Jersey.
Legal immigrants number 850,000 each year; undocumented (illegal) immigrants are estimated to be half that number. They come to improve their lives and create a foundation of success for their children to build upon, as did the author's grandparents when they landed at Ellis Island in 1899 after losing 2 children to disease on a cramped cattle car-like sailing from Europe to the Land of Opportunity. Many bring skills and a willingness to work hard to make their dreams a reality, something our founders did four hundred years ago. In describing America, chapter after chapter identifies "foreigners" who became successful in the US and contributed to our society. However, most struggle in their efforts and need guidance in Anytown, USA. Perhaps intelligent immigration reform, White House-Congress cooperation, concerned citizens and books like this can extend a helping hand. Here's a closing quote from the book's Intro: "With all of our cultural differences though, you'll be surprised to learn how much our countries—and we as human beings—have in common on this little third rock from the sun. After all, the song played at our Disneyland parks around the world is 'It's A Small World After All.' Peace." www.AmericaAtoZ.com

[Tank_Commander]

When is the President going to enforce existing laws on the books? I mean, he had "fast and furious" Attorney General Holder sue Arizona saying it was up to the feds to do it. What right does this illegal alien have to say we are not "fair" when it comes to breaking our laws?

[RKMctrog007]

not going to happen future illegal aliens will become future liberal voters.
Obama doesn't care one whit about America or anyone in it but himself and his liberal buddies.

[firm1]

It appears that Obama does not intend to enforce the immigration laws and he is bullying the states that want to stand up for themselves. Check out www.fairus.org and www.judicialwatch.org Write your elected representatives to include the president with your concerns and write them often. Posting on these sites is ok but won't do much good.

[firm1]

Here is a thought let's get up a petition up to have illegal Erika and her family deported to her native country. If it worked for her it could work for LEGAL CITIZENS.

[tsigili]

If illegals are made legal, the flood across our borders will be incredible, and America will indeed become Mexico Norte.

The result? Dem socialist dictatorship, forever. Freedom will die.

[firm1]

Totaly agree with you however many Repubs are to blame also for sitting on their hands and doing nothing to hinder the influx of ILLEGALS over the years. I will be writing all my elected officials AGAIN to object to the lack of action in tightning access to our borders. I live in NY and one of our officials wants to give financial aid to ILLEGALS to go to college. DISGUSTING !!!