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Locals React to Obama's New Immigration Policy

by KREX News Room
by Amanda Brandeis

Story Created: Jun 15, 2012 at 7:42 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jun 18, 2012 at 2:08 PM MDT

MESA COUNTY, Colo.- President Obama's decision to grant work permits to younger illegal immigrants directly impacts people in Mesa County. Immigrant labor at local farms is already important to many businesses.

The new policy has opened the door of opportunity to as many as 800,000 immigrants.

Jose Reyes Villanuera Arredondo, a 24-year-old who moved to America when he was 10, said, "Everybody needs a job, to pay your college tuition, what do you need? A job."

Arredondo says the new policy doesn't affect him directly, but it does affect some of his friends. He also said, "Just the basic regular jobs that people don't want, that's what we do."

One local farmer says he’s not familiar enough with the new policy to know how he feels about it. However, he says his farm couldn't run without the help of immigrant labor.

Richard Skaer, one of the owners of Z's Orchards and Produce, said, "It's hard to find good labor and it's hard to find legal labor in many instances. I'm glad that we have men and women that will help us in our orchards."

Carol Zadrozny, also owner of Z's Orchards and Produce, said, "Hispanic workers we have here are really professionals. They have grown up in the soil and they basically know how to do it expediently."

Many young people say they've been waiting for this day to come for a while.

"They're just normal people, they need to make money to support their families too," said 18-year-old Teresita Baca. Baca recently became a certified nurse aid.

Arredondo said, "It's a great plan. I'm very impressed with the government, very happy and excited to see the new changes."

For now they will have to wait and see what this change will mean.

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Vince said on Saturday, Jun 16 at 1:32 AM

All I can say is "ARE YOU KIDDING ME???" What ever happended to the sovereignty of our nation. If you go ANYWHERE in the world and are illegal regardless of circumstances you are either in jail or deported NOT supported and coddled. Regardless of all the BS surrounding what Americans will or won't do for work, illegals remove the opportunity for the freedom of that decision. Illegals suck the resources of education, welfare and health care, sending billions of dollars out of our economy to whereever they come from. Compassion starts at home, let's take care of ourselves first! Wake up America!!!

Anonymous said on Saturday, Jun 16 at 2:42 AM

I'd be curious to see what the requirements are to get a permit before I go on a hateful tangent.

anon said on Saturday, Jun 16 at 7:17 AM

Work pipeline with illigals who made good money wiring it back to Mexico...Yes they have families to take care of but sending U.S. dollar out of our country has broke us..If we went to Mexico to live we would be escorted out or killed...Obama wants their vote he knows he will not win without them...

guest said on Saturday, Jun 16 at 7:32 AM

i agree vince its so sickening . most of the money goes back to mexico . president does not care about the people who built this country , hes ruining it with illegals . just showing every one that it is okay to break the law . depending on who you are

Anonymous said on Saturday, Jun 16 at 12:32 PM

Im voting for obamaTthe bible always said love thy nieghbor.Yeah right legals would do any type of work my a!@.Hate all you want the devil feeds on it!

Maria said on Saturday, Jun 16 at 1:02 PM

Thank you Barak Obama! 8000,000 work grant permits for illegal immigrants! What a wonderful country! We get so much support and coddling so we can work and send the money home to Mexico! We own Colorado now Obama is making it easier for us to own the nation! Thank you Obama. This is a political move on his part to get votes,this is what is politically correct. This is exactly what we want to make this a Hispanic dominated country. I sure hope you know how to speak Spanish cause that is where this country is headed...I speak Spanish:) 800,000 ......today......

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