New faces of immigration

Immigration laws become much more complicated when mothers and fathers who lack proper legal documentation are separated from their children who hold American citizenship.  Upon the deportation of parents, families are ripped apart, obligating others to care for the kids left behind.  This is what has happened to Marlon and Emiely Parras, teenage siblings now forced to live apart from their Guatemalan mother and father in order to take advantage of the educational opportunities that lie within the United States. 

Thus, the Latino community is urging the Obama administration to prioritize comprehensive immigration reform.  While they acknowledge that there are many pressing issues, they hope that their overwhelming backing of the new president and personal stories of separated families will influence both Mr. Obama and the American people to address this important concern. Garnering support for illegal immigrants is already a tall order, and individual stories of hardship and pain, while they pull at the heartstrings of many, may not be enough.  In a time when many citizens themselves are losing their own jobs, the economic uncertainty has created yet another hurdle the Latino community must overcome.