WASHINGTON -- Inside the U.S. Supreme Court building Monday morning, lawyers argued about the president's executive powers and deportation. But outside, dozens of Arkansas activists stood on the sidewalks, waving signs and shouting support for less restrictive immigration policies.
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Most wore blue T-shirts featuring an Arkansas map and an image of the Statue of Liberty. Arkansas is one of 26 states suing to stop the administration.
Norma Contreras of Bentonville rode a bus for 24 hours so she could show support for President Barack Obama's November 2014 executive order.
As the mother of two U.S. citizens, she would benefit from one of the provisions, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents. The provision would give an estimated 4.3 million illegal aliens an avenue to avoid deportation, at least temporarily.
It would allow Contreras, a cook and child care worker, to apply for "temporary relief from removal" and give her legal authorization to work.
Last week, she was approached about a job that would have increased her pay by 50 percent, but she was unable to accept it because she lacked the proper documents.
A native of Jalisco, a state bordering the Pacific Ocean in Mexico, she said she has been in the United States for 26 years.
Her two children "have lived here since they were born. They have never been in Mexico," she said. "If this was approved, I wouldn't be living in fear. I could apply for a driver's license. I could get a permit to work, and I could give them a better lifestyle."
A separate provision in Obama's executive order would expand a program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which gives a temporary reprieve for illegal immigrants who came into the U.S. when they were children. The expansion is on hold pending the lawsuit.
Iris Aquino, 21, of Rogers failed to qualify for the childhood program; she hopes a broader program will be put in place.
Aquino came to Arkansas from Chiapas, Mexico's southernmost state, 11 years ago, but left for one year, making her ineligible for the childhood program.
At Monday's rally, she wore a red, white and blue bandanna and waved signs written in Spanish and in English. One said: "Tu y yo. Todos Somos America." Translation -- "You and I. We Are All America."
The immigrants whose futures are at stake are good, hardworking people, she said.
"We're not doing any damage to this country. We're actually contributing," she said.
The Arkansas United Community Coalition organized the bus trip to Washington. Its founder and executive director, Mireya Reith, said supporters held fundraisers to help pay for the trip. Several Arkansas businesses also made contributions, she said.
A Section on 04/19/2016