Obama's Actions On Young Immigrants Could Impact Hundreds Here | News

Buffalo, N.Y. - "I've been in the states since I was two years old, this is all I know."

Her name is Ludine and she came here from Haiti as a toddler with her parents.

And she is one of the estimated 800,000 children of illegal immigrants nationwide -- often called "the dreamers" -- who will now be able to live here openly and safely under the president's executor order for at least the next two years.

It's estimated there could be a few hundred such young people in Western New York.

Under the president's plan here's who would qualify:

* Anyone under 30.

* Has been brought in to the U.S. before the age of 16.

* Has been in the country for five straight years.

* Has no criminal record

* Has graduated from high school, earned a G.E.D. or has served honorably in the military

Ludine is now going for to Bryant and Stratton for her GED diploma.

After that, she says she wants to live the American dream.

"To be able to go to college, I'm getting there, to be able to graduate with honors and having a great job and not having to worry about not getting deported even though I've been in the states since I was two," said Ludine.

"Personally, I have met people who have graduated from law school who are undocumented," said Sophie Feal, a local immigration attorney who herself is the daughter of immigrants.

She says those benefitting from the president's actions could one day benefit us all, just as the actions of the children of immigrants have done for over 100 years.

"So I always think out there may be the guy who has the cure for cancer, the guy or the gal who has the cure for cancer and we may not know it because they've never had the opportunity to shine," said Feal. 

Many, like Ludine consider themselves as American as you or I.

"I consider this as home, this is all I know, this is the language I know," said Ludine.