About half a million undocumented Peruvians living in the United States could benefit from immigration reform being pushed forward by President Barack Obama, according to Peruvian representatives in the Andean Parliament.
Obama announced plans this week to change U.S. immigration laws, which would include providing an opportunity for some 11 million undocumented immigrants in that country to receive citizenship.
Obama said his country’s current immigration system is “out of date and badly broken.”
“This is good news for our migrants and their families,” the Peruvian representatives said, according to state news agency Andina. “It will be a long process, but now it looks like there is a real decision and political convergence on this theme.”
Many undocumented Peruvians living in the U.S. will be able to come back to Peru to visit family for the first time in many years if a reform is passed.
Some Republican lawmakers appear to be supporting the reforms after Mitt Romney’s defeat to Obama in last year’s presidential election highlighted the need for the GOP to do a better job at attracting Hispanics and other minorities.
