Applicant Laura Sanchez from Mexico, left, fills the Casa de Maryland registration form with help of her sister Nancy before they applied for the Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals on Wednesday in Langley Park, Md. Hundreds of thousands of young illegal immigrants scrambled to get papers in order Wednesday as the U.S. started accepting applications to allow them to avoid deportation and get a work permit – but not a path to citizenship.By AMY TAXIN
Associated Press
SANTA ANA, Calif. – Nathaly Uribe has all the papers she needs to get a work permit – something the 17-year-old daughter of a construction worker only dreamed of growing up as an illegal immigrant in the United States.
The high school senior said she hopes a federal program beginning Wednesday and defers deportation for illegal immigrants will make it easier to get a decent job and help pay for college.
“This is my country. It’s where my roots are,” said Uribe, who moved from Chile when she was a toddler and lives in Glen Burnie, Md. “It feels great to know that the country that I call home finally accepted me.”