Immigration Policy Opens Doors For Undocumented Fresnans

“We really knew that something was going to be happening with the election, but never…just today out of nowhere!

The opportunities that I would want for myself as a graduate with a degree in math haven't been open to me until possibly now,” she said referring to President Obama’s new immigration policy.

Perez expects to qualify for the President's plan to grant work permits to younger undocumented immigrants. She came to the valley from Mexico at age 8. She's now a 24 year old grad student with bigger dreams.

“It’s been 17 years of trying to figure so many things out…I'm just in shock with the news in general,” Perez said.

But local republicans said the new immigration policy is an economic disaster.

Michael Der-Manouel Jr. with Fresno’s Lincoln Club said, “we have such a lack of jobs in the country so do to this doesn't make sense from an economic standpoint. You're only taking Americans and throwing them into a situation with people who are not here legally.”

Javier Guzman with Fresno’s Chicano Youth Center stands with Perez and some 800,000 undocumented people who could benefit. 

“It gives them the opportunity to become whole to… whole human beings,” Guzman said.

Perez already feels whole. 

“In general, it's going to just improve the economy. We need more jobs. We're hard working people and are doing jobs others aren't doing anyways,” she said.