Immigration rally held at Executive Mansion in Raleigh
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Dozens gathered outside the Executive Mansion Thursday evening for a rally in an attempt to ask Gov. Pat McCrory to work with the hundreds of thousands illegal immigrants in North Carolina.
In November, President Obama announced a new immigration policy protecting millions of people from deportation. Since then, more than 20 governors, including McCrory, have filed a lawsuit against the plan.
Rally organizers said attempts to talk to the governor directly have failed. So they chose to rally outside the mansion and yell chants, such as, "Si se puede! Yes we can!"
Among the chanting though, were softer voices in the crowd, like that of Jorge Ramos. Ramos is just 17. The Apex high school senior was born in Mexico but has lived in the U.S. for 11 years. He's breathing easier since President Obama announced temporary legal status and work permits for nearly five million undocumented immigrants. One of the many goals behind the plan is to keep families together.
"I don't have to worry about not ever seeing my parents again one day when I get home," said Ramos.
That relief, though, is temporary. In December, McCrory joined that multi-state lawsuit saying the president's plan would put a strain on government services. ABC11 asked for examples and in an email from his staffers were told "now that some people (again numbers aren't clear) will be authorized to work they will be eligible for unemployment benefits should they qualify."
In President Obama's November speech he said this about his plan, "It does not grant citizenship, or the right to stay here permanently or offer the same benefits that citizens receive."
Shortly after that speech, an official familiar with the administration stated those eligible for the plan would not be able to receive federal government benefits.
There was no answer for that follow up question, but another example given by the governor's office is that some will now be eligible for driver licenses. Immigration advocates argue that as a positive.
"It means that people will be able to get driver licenses and buy car insurance which means more money spent in North Carolina," said Hector Vaca with Action NC. "Our roads will be safer. These are people who will be able to make it to work, which means they'll have more money to spend in the local economy."
The governor's office also points out that joining the multi-state lawsuit is not coming at the expense of North Carolina tax payers since Texas is heading up the lawsuit.
Applications for the president's plan wouldn't start until later this year but it's already hitting a roadblock in the Republican-controlled Congress. House Republicans have already approved legislation to overturn the plan. The bill is now headed to the U.S. Senate.
