Immigration big topic in second GOP presidential debate

Southern Colorado kept a close eye on the Republican presidential debate Wednesday night.

The candidates discussed how to address the 11 million people living in the country illegally and securing the border.

For Colorado Springs resident Rufina Castellanos, the candidates’ plans on immigration are important to her. She was brought into the country illegally as a little girl.

“My parents tried to do it the right way, and not everybody has the chance to actually get a permit to come here,” she said. “They got denied.”

Through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, she now has work authorization and deferral from deportation. Castellanos said she hopes some of the presidential candidates will rethink their ideas.

“I just don’t think that because you’re not legal here, you’re going to be doing bad things,” she said. “I don’t do bad things. I have my two kids that I raised, I have my family, I’m the owner of my own company.”

The next Republican presidential debate and the first Democratic presidential debate are both next month.