Local family hopeful about president’s immigration plan

Some families around southern Colorado kept a close eye on the president’s message on immigration Thursday.

Under his plan, undocumented immigrants who have been living in the U.S. for more than five years, who have children who are American citizens or legal residents, who register, pass a criminal background check and pay their “fair share of taxes” will be able to apply to stay in the country temporarily without the fear of deportation.

Oscar and Paloma Macedo anxiously awaited the president’s message. Both were brought into the country without documents by their respective parents as children. They are now married and have two sons who are U.S. citizens. Their biggest concern is being able to stay together as a family.

“It’s just the American dream everybody has,” Oscar Macedo said. “To get a house, to be able to go to the store without being in danger of getting stopped by a cop and you won’t be back with your family no more.”

Oscar Macedo said he applied for legal residency in 1997 but was told the immigration service hasn’t gotten to review his case yet.

The Macedos say they follow the law.

“We pay our taxes, we pay our insurance, our medical bills, our own rent, our own food,” Paloma Macedo said. “We’re not trying to take anybody’s job away, we’re not trying to take advantage of the government. We’re here to work and support our family.”