News

3 Photos That Tell the Story of Obama’s Immigration Action

President Obama looks at reporters during a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin / AP Photo

ByGood Morning America

November 20, 2014, 9:47 PM

 -- As President Obama unveils his much-anticipated executive action to overhaul the nation's immigration system, three photographs tell the very human story of what will begin to unfold tonight.

A FAMILY RELIEVED TO REMAIN UNITED

After nearly a decade living in fear of separation by deportation, the Andrades of Arlington, Va., say they are about to breathe a sigh of relief.

After nearly a decade living in fear of separation by deportation, the Andrades of Arlington, Virginia, say they are about to breathe a sigh of relief. The Bolivian family came to the United States illegally a decade ago – mother Betty, an accountant, and father Mario, an architect. They brought two children with them, but later had a third in the United States.

Ten-year-old Claudia (left, pictured above) – a U.S. citizen – is now their key to legal status and work permits under Obama’s new plan. The undocumented parents and siblings of U.S. citizen children will be allowed to stay.

ANGER OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE

As evident in the most recent ABC News-Washington Post poll, the nation is narrowly divided on the issue of legal status and work permits for millions of undocumented immigrants. For many critics of Obama’s action, it’s an issue of fairness, constitutional authority and rule of law. A lone protestor stood outside the White House on the eve of Obama’s Thursday night speech to give air to those grievances: “Mr. President, just what part of Illegal Alien don’t you understand?” this man’s sign reads.

HOPES DASHED FOR IMMIGRANTS LEFT OUT

Lavon Massey, 1, holds a sign as immigrants and activists hold a protest outside the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service office in New Orleans, Nov. 19, 2014.

While millions see this as a celebratory moment, there the pockets of disappointment that are already unmistakable: Thousands of agricultural workers will be excluded from deferred action, as will the parents of participants in the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program who also desperately lobbied for relief. Wednesday in New Orleans, 1-year-old Lavon Massey protested with his father outside a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service office over the fact that many immigrants living illegally in the country will not be shielded by Obama. Advocacy groups are planning more protests tonight and Friday.