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June 15, 2012 
Immigrant Advocacy Group Applauds Policy Change
By
Roger Clark
/ NY1
There was a range of emotions Friday at the Jackson Heights office of immigrant advocates "Make The Road New York" as they watched President Barack Obama discuss his administration's new immigration reform policy.
"It's like a dream come true," said Adriana Pasto. "It's exciting. It's all I was waiting for. It's my life. It's my future. It's the most beautiful day of my life."
The day was especially meaningful for one group of young people, many of whom are undocumented residents that currently attend college in the city. The president's order means those who are under 30 and were brought here before they were 16 no longer have to live in constant fear of deportation.
"I saw what was going on in Arizona, Oklahoma, places like that. I thought it was going to be like that. I thought they were going to do something like that in New York, so I was worried about it," said Oscar Chico, a Mexico City native. "I want to succeed in life. I don't want to do anything bad to this country or affect anyone around me so now I'm in college, I go to Parsons, the New School for Design and yeah, that's my dream. I want to be an art teacher and I want to keep fighting for this. I want to keep helping my friends."
While they say this is an historic first step, those who spoke with NY1 say the next step should be passage of the DREAM Act which would pave the way for their U.S. citizenship.
"We will not stop, and this is not enough, definitely," said Make The Road New York Youth Organizer Natalia Aristizbal. "We're grateful for today but the fight continues and we need more."
Francisco Curiel, 20, a Mexico City native and current Queens resident, agrees there is more work ahead. But he is also enjoying the moment.
"I never lose my faith," he said. "Today, finally we are making history."
For original article and to watch video, click here.
More on: Expanding Civil Rights 
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 Victory for Immigrant Families: Preventing Unjust Deportations in NYCOn March 18, 2013, Mayor Bloomberg signed new legislation to stop federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from using NYC’s criminal justice system to deport thousands of New Yorkers.
Building on legislation we helped to win just over a year ago, Local Laws 21 and 22 prohibit not only the Department of Correction but now also the NYPD from spending millions of city taxpayer dollars to hold individuals on behalf of ICE agents for detention and deportation. Each year, thousands of New York families will stay together who would otherwise have been torn apart by overly aggressive, indiscriminate immigration enforcement.
At a moment when the country is debating immigration reform, with these laws, New York City sends a clear message to Washington that tearing apart thousands of immigrant families is bad policy.
With your support, we look forward to winning national reform that keeps families together. We thank our partners at the Center for Popular Democracy, the Cardozo Immigration Justice Clinic and the bills’ sponsors, NYC Council Speaker Quinn and Council Member Mark-Viverito, for their courageous leadership. 
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