Local leader calls Obama order on illegal immigrants "an atrocity"

Posted: 6/15/2012 12:51:00 PM
Updated: 6/15/2012 12:51:31 PM

The Obama Administration is expected to make an historic announcement Friday afternoon in which they will stop deporting some illegal immigrants and begin granting work permits for some immigrants.

The executive order by the president will apply to young undocumented immigrants who came to the United State before the age of 16, similar to the group that qualifies for the “Dream Act,” which has failed to pass through congress for nearly 10 years.

Undocumented residents who have been in the country over five years and are under the age of 30 and either served in the military or are a student with a high school diploma or GED can apply for the new work permits.

Locally, the leader of Rhode Islanders against Illegal Immigration Terry Gorman is calling this move an “atrocity.”

“What don’t people understand about the word illegal, and your heart goes out to somebody that has been here since they were 6-years-old and went all through school and all of that and basically they have become Americanized, their parents have not bothered to, but the children have because of the situation they are placed in, but they’re still illegal alien children,” said Gorman.

With the economy struggling, Gorman said this act may make it more difficult for young American citizens to find gainful employment. “The last several weeks the news has been about teenage American kids who can’t get jobs, we don’t have jobs to give to kids who are graduating from high school.”

Dee DeQuattro | WPRO News