BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- President Barack Obama will address the nation Thursday night announcing sweeping changes to the nation's immigration laws, and it's something that will impact immigrants in Massachusetts.
The changes could be an end to the controversial program, Secure Communities, which allows the government to check the immigration status of every single person arrested for a crime by local police. The program is meant to identify and deport dangerous illegal immigrants, but for years it's been criticized as being too broad and hurting police relations within the immigrant community.
State Attorney General Elect Maura Healey told FOX 25's Political Reporter Sharman Sacchetti that she's heartened by the president's move.
"Secure Communities is a program where we've seen issues in terms of implementation. I really want to take a look at what the president is proposing," she said.
State Representative Shaunna O'Connell believes it's time to start following the law that's in place now.
"We need to stop making Massachusetts a magnet for illegal immigration and start following the laws like Secure Communities," O'Connell said.
Activists say the president's action means some 150,000 illegal immigrants could be granted work permits and after that the possibility of social security cards and driver's licenses.
And immigrants like Zoila Lopez, who has been living here illegally for 25 years, say it would be a big help to them.
"I been having three jobs, and sometimes I don't see my kids that much," she said.
Activists at the State House praised the president's executive action and hope Congress finishes the job.
"It's common sense to provide the fixes our president can within our legal community, but it is our hope that congress will finish the job we really want to see a legislative fix," Eva Milona said.
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