A young activist gets his father released from detention but many more will be deported breaking up families with children born in the US.
Since 2008 the Obama Administration's 'Secure Communities' program has deported more than one million immigrants, and 97% of those have been Latino. These deportation policies do not discriminate between migrant workers and long-time immigrants with American children. As a consequence, the Applied Research Center has reported that anywhere from 5,000 - 50,000 children have been left without parents, and as a consequence, have become ward of the State.
On the heels of Obama's second inauguration, the question of immigration reform hangs heavy over an administration guilty of deporting more immigrants in one term than his predecessor did in two. This recent report by The Real News Network highlights one small victory in this war against mass-deportation, but also concedes that immigration reform won't stop the ongoing breakup of thousands of families. Make sure to check out their entire series on immigration reform.