Isle leaders praise Obama’s reprieve for illegal immigrants

Immigration reform advocates in Hawaii came together to hail President Barack Obama a day after he announced key initiatives to allow certain undocumented immigrants temporary reprieve from deportation.

About 30 members of the Hawaii Coalition for Immigration Reform — a group made up of leaders from faith, immigrant, labor, education and civil rights communities along with individuals — gathered at Harris United Methodist Church on Friday to celebrate the president’s initiatives, some of which will help families stay together.

One of the initiatives, a new Deferred Action for Parental Accountability program, grants a temporary reprieve from deportation for parents of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. The parents must have continuously resided in the U.S. since Jan. 1, 2010. They also could seek authorization for employment.

The Rev. Rona Man­ga­ya­yam, assistant pastor of Harris United Methodist Church, said the initiative will give undocumented parents self-worth and dignity and reduce their fear of being abruptly separated from family members.

According to immigration attorneys John Egan and Clare Hanusz, an estimated 17,000 to 40,000 undocumented residents who live in Hawaii could benefit from Obama’s executive actions on immigration.

"It’s a start. It’s a good start," said Hanusz, chairwoman of the Hawaii Chapter of the American Immi- gration Lawyers Association.

According to Egan, an economic boost is predicted from an influx of undocumented immigrants obtaining work permits. Economists also pro­ject an increase in business startups. "They will be providing more goods and services," he said.

Even though the coalition called the initiatives a vital step forward, Egan said more work still needs to be done to establish a permanent and comprehensive immigration policy. "We really do need to get a permanent solution, not a patch," he added.

For more information on Obama’s executive actions on immigration, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ website at www.uscis.gov.