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IMMIGRATION Oregon immigrants, activists celebrate Obama plan Comment By Gosia Wozniacka The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Gosia Wozniacka The Associated Press Posted Nov. 20, 2014 at 7:07 PM By Gosia Wozniacka The Associated Press Posted Nov. 20, 2014 at 7:07 PM » Social News PORTLAND— Tens of thousands of immigrants who lack legal status and live in Oregon will be eligible for protection from deportation and a federal permit to work legally under a plan announced by President Barack Obama. Immigrant leaders and families, community members, elected officials and allies cheered at watch parties and living rooms across the state as the president gave his speech Thursday evening. "This announcement is huge. It's huge for our kids who will not have to worry anymore about their father not coming home from work," said Anastasia Hernandez-Vasquez, a Hillsboro resident whose husband lacks legal status. Hernandez-Vasquez, who watched the president's speech in Portland at the Center for Intercultural Organizing, cried after the announcement as she was surrounded by three of her American-born children. "It's a huge weight taken off our shoulders," she said. The president plans to grant relief to immigrants who have lived in the United States for at least five years and are the parents of children who are American citizens or legal residents. The existing program that offers temporary protection for "Dreamers," young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, will also be expanded by eliminating the limit on the age of the people who qualify. That means up to five million of the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally could qualify. Republicans have cast Obama's move as presidential overreach and arrogance. About 120,000 immigrants in Oregon lack legal status, according to the Pew Research Center. They make up about 3 percent of the state's total population; most hail from Mexico. Tens of thousands of them could qualify for immigration relief under the new plan. More than 80 percent of Oregon's 120,000 unauthorized immigrants had lived in the country for more than five years, data from the Migration Policy Institute show. The institute estimates that up to 64,000 people in Oregon could be shielded from deportation under Obama's action — including nearly 50,000 parents of U.S. citizen children. Many of the immigrants who lack legal status work in Oregon's nurseries, orchards and farm fields, so the state agriculture industry has been especially supportive of legalization. "This action may help agriculture because a lot of our workers have been with us five to 20 years. But it doesn't create a guest worker program," said Jeff Stone, executive director of the Oregon Association of Nurseries. Congress still needs to pass immigration reform, Stone said, but Obama's plan is a good first step because "it's about humanity, it's about economic growth." By Gosia Wozniacka The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Gosia Wozniacka The Associated Press Posted Nov. 20, 2014 at 7:07 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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