It’s been a year since President Obama announced an executive order that would grant deportation relief to millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. To commemorate the monumental announcement and to demonstrate support for it, several hundred immigration reform activists marched for three days and almost 40 miles to Gov. Greg Abbott’s mansion in Austin, Texas.
Wanting to see action
Although the president made the announcement over one year ago, little action has come as a result. So, supporters of positive immigration reform voiced their mounting frustrations as they staged a nonviolent protest. Those who took part in the organized rally want to see real action surrounding the proposed legislation at the very least.
“It’s a shame and it’s a disgrace that these politicians are allowed to play with the lives of the people that work so hard by cleaning houses, by being nannies, by serving at hotels and restaurants, by building skyscrapers, by helping the U.S. to be the most powerful nation due to their sweat, blood and tears,” Montserrat Garibay, a Texas activist of local group Education Austin, said, according to The Texas Tribune. “Greg Abbott, we have a message for you … you don’t have the best interest for Texas and for our country.”
Plenty to gain
There were a few different pro-immigration groups that were in attendance, and they were quick to point out the benefits of enacting such programs. They contend that helping undocumented immigrants become citizens would help stimulate the economy. Almost 700,000 Texans would benefit from the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, according to the San Antonio Current.
National GDP would stand to increase 0.4 percent over 10 years (equivalent to about $90 billion), according to a report from the White House.