Immigrant advocates: Keep preparing for relief

North Texas immigration advocates said unauthorized immigrants should continue to prepare for relief despite an injunction issued Tuesday that blocks President Barack Obama’s executive order on immigration.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen affects more than 1 million unauthorized immigrants in Texas, some of whom were expected to apply for relief on Wednesday. Gov. Greg Abbott filed a lawsuit to block the executive order while he was still attorney general.

“Immigrant families and our allies are moving forward regardless of today’s ruling and getting ready for the deferred action programs that will give millions of people the chance to live, work, and stay in America with their families,” said Douglas Interiano, CEO of Proyecto Inmigrante ICS, Inc.

The executive order would have expanded the pool of unauthorized immigrants who could seek deferrals allowing them to stay in the U.S. without immediate threat of deportatiaon.

Immigration advocates urged immigrants to keep preparing by collecting the materials needed and staying informed. Organizations such as Catholic Charities Fort Worth and Proyecto Inmigrante ICS, Inc. in North Texas planned to continue with workshops.

Plans at the University of Texas at Arlington, where students have had four workshops, also are expected to stay on track.

“The key here is that Judge Hanen only halted the immigration actions from going into effect, but they are still queued to launch once a higher court suspends or rejects this decision, said Jarryd Willis, president and creator of DREAM Factory, an organization supporting the illegal immigrants.

“This ruling isn't harmful; it's just another feckless attempt to stand in the way of DREAMers & immigrant families,” he said.

The order expanded DACA or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, by removing the age limit, which was 30, and permitting applications from those who have lived in the U.S. since 2010. It also made work permits expire in three years instead of two.

Also under the order, DAPA, or Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents,would protect about 4.1 million unauthorized immigrants nationwide. It would allow them to apply for work permits, provided they were parents of U.S.-born children or legal permanent residents, passed a background check and paid fees

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was supposed to begin accepting requests for DACA Wednesday. But after the injunction was issued the department announced it will suspend plans to accept applications for both programs.

“I’m personally angry and upset because they basically are giving false hopes to families who have struggled so much and suffered to be here in the country,” said Yaritza Lourdes Gloria, a 20-year-old immigrant from Haltom City whose father is counting on DAPA to work, drive and travel to Mexico without fear of deportation.

Erika Rocha, a Fort Worth resident and advocate with the group Organizing for Action, said Abbott’s efforts to block the plan shows that GOP leaders are out of step with the Hispanic and immigrant communities.

“I think it is ignoring one of the biggest, growing demographics in Texas,” Rocha said.

Ramiro Luna, an immigration advocate and co-founder of the North Texas Dream Team said they wanted Wednesday to be a day to celebrate. Still, he remained optimistic.

“We are going to get it eventually,” he said.

This report includes material from the Star-Telegram archives and wire reports.

This story was originally published February 17, 2015 at 4:54 PM with the headline "Immigrant advocates: Keep preparing for relief."