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Baltimore's Mayor Stands With President On Immigration

BALTIMORE (WJZ) --- Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has issued a statement regarding her support for President Barack Obama's Immigration Accountability Executive Actions he ordered on Thursday.

"I stand with the President on executive action, because throughout our rich history, Baltimore City has welcomed hard-working individuals from across the world whose unique talents, energy, and perspectives have strengthened our growing economy and diversified the fabric of our neighborhoods," Rawlings-Blake said. "For far too long, a dysfunctional system has held many new Americans back, undermining our deepest values as Americans and our greatest aspirations for prosperity."

She goes on to say, "I strongly applaud President Obama's decision to take executive action to address our nation's broken immigration system."

"This action will strengthen cities like Baltimore by keeping families together, further growing our economies, and fostering community trust in law enforcement and government overall," Rawlings-Blake said. "Thanks to this action, Baltimore can continue to be a place of hope and opportunity for those looking to build a better, safer, and stronger future."

Some Md. immigrants are already feeling more safe about their future, including on Essex woman who is hopeful that Obama's executive action will her reunite with her family.

Albertina Oceguera, a Mexican immigrant, told WJZ Obama's immigration plan could allow her to see her daughter, who lives in Mexico, after five years.

"She would have qualified under the DECA program, the deferred action program that the president announced, but she left four months before he made that announcement," Oceguera said.

Albertina says she came to the United States 11 years ago with her husband. She says gaining citizenship has been an endless task.

"I came to this country on a visa and I stayed here and ever since then there hasn't been a mechanism for me to do so," she said.

I was born in Chile, but I put my roots in here," said another immigrant Marlene Uribe. "I'm really more safe."

Her daughter, Nathaly Uribe Robledo, added to Uribe's sentiment.

"For my parents specifically, they won't have to live with this fear every day," Robledo said.

While members of both parties are in favor of fixing the immigration system, not everyone is happy with how it's being done.

"If President Obama acts in defiance of the people and imposes his will on the country, Congress will act. We're considering a variety of options," said Sen. Mitch McConnell, (R-KY) Minority Leader.

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