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"We're here to celebrate our victory," said Beatrice Chodosh of the Coalition of Residents and Immigrants in Solidarity (CRISOL). "He took some measures that will make it easier for them to live in this country without having to be in the shadows, being able to be out in the open and have a life like everybody else here, which they deserve."
Other speakers included Ligia Marroquin, who works for U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., as a Hispanic outreach coordinator. Marroquin arrived in the United Stages with her family at age 5 and moved to Stamford when she was 7 years old.
"This is such a great, joyful day," she told the crowd. "This is a really, really happy day that we have all been waiting for."
Marroquin also read a message from Himes, backing Obama's decision and stating that more must be done for immigrants.
The president's plan will allow undocumented immigrants who are parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, known as green-card holders, to legally live and work in the country for a period of three years. He expanded the pool to include those brought to the country as children who are eligible for protected status.
Alberto Bernardez, a Stamford-based assistant supervisor with the Service Employees International Union, said the group has been working for immigration reform.
"We have too many people living in the shadows, which is unfair, and we think it is good for our economy that people can come out of the shadows and pay their taxes and participate in American society," Bernardez said.
He said Obama's move is only a start, but will help 5 million people come into the mainstream.
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