Undocumented resident students rejoice over immigration policy change

SALT LAKE CITY - The decision by President Barack Obama to order change to the nation's immigration policy gives undocumented residents who meet certain requirements a chance to receive a work permit and come out from under the threat of deportation.

That was greeted with tears of joy and excitement from students who may now be in line for work permits, and also from those who support them.

Here are a few of their stories and reaction:

Nora Esquivel, 21, was born in Mexico City and arrived in California at age 6. She left California at 13 and has been in Utah as an undocumented resident for the past eight years.

She is transferring from Salt Lake Community College and will major in environmental engineering at the University of Utah. She said she wants to own her own business.

Esquival said she awoke Friday and was getting ready for her day when a friend sent a text message her and said, "'You've to check out Facebook and see what's on there, it's good news.'"

She started reposting everything regarding Obama's order. She said her parents were in disbelief.

"My parents are always pushing me for an education, and this time it reassures them that things are going to be OK for me here," she said.

"There's so many possibilities now because before it was vague," she said. Before, "if I ever do anything wrong, I can be gone and my whole future is pretty much done, but now I can just think about what I can do with my degree and I can see the end of the tunnel."

She said that she can now get a job and work and that the whole point of why she is getting an education is to apply and put herself out there to help people and join in the workforce.

Simon Gasper, 19, from Guerrero, Mexico, came to Utah at age 5 with his parents and remains an illegal resident.

"I can help them (parents) by getting a better job instead of just manual labor," he said of his reaction to Friday's announcement.

He is attending Salt Lake Community College and plans on eventually earning a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. He said now he'll be able to work and be able to pay for school toward that degree. And his friends can start looking for work without the fear of deportation.

Gerardo Torivio, 18, came to Utah six years ago from Morello, Mexico, at age 12 and joined an older sister. Their mother came later. Gerardo, an illegal resident, said he plans to transfer from Salt Lake Community College and is undecided about his future path of study.

"I think that is awesome, it has been hard for me to get a job, but with this (change) I think this is good. I don't know what to say," he said in disbelief after learning of Obama's decision.

He said that he can now work his own way through college. He said that he did not have a plan on how to pay for college and was just hoping to get a job and somehow pay for school.

"It is going to be easier for me," he said.

Neiva Carellano, 18, came as an 8-month-old from Mexico. She is studying at Salt lake Community College and hopes to transfer to a university.

"I always wanted to study biology, but I was so scared," she said. "I wanted to be a psychologist, but what am I going to do? I can't even get a job."

Friday's announcement changes that: "So I think it's great now, now that I can (get a job)," she said. "Or even to pay for college to help my mom. I won't have to rely on my parents and I can now help them out," she said.