The first of Florida's young people are applying and being approved, for work visas under the new Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
More than 60,000 in Florida are eligible for the DACA program backed by President Barack Obama.
Evelyn Rivera is going through the application process. Now 24, she moved to the United States from her native Colombia at age 3.
A high school graduate now working to save money to attend college, Rivera said DACA has given her peace of mind that she won't be deported.
"Just extra safety, knowing that I won't have the risk, but really I think more just relief for my family, so that they don't have to worry about me any more," Rivera said.
Some 1.4 million young people are eligible to remain in the United States under the Deferred Action policy. Campaigns in Florida and around the country are trying to help undocumented immigrants attain Deferred Action status.
Rivera's mother, Yolanda Rave, was deported to Columbia in 2007 months before her daughter's high school graduation. From Colombia, Rave researched information on how her daughter could stay in the States.
Rivera said some of her peers are hesitant to apply for Deferred Action because of potential retribution if Republican candidate Mitt Romney were to be elected and overturned the policy.
Romney has yet to declare whether he would uphold the policy, although he has said he would like to see a more permanent immigration reform solution.
Rivera now works on the national "United We Dream" campaign, to help others like her find the ability to stay in the country in which they grew up.
- Florida New Connection
More statistics on DREAMers at www.immigrationpolicy.org.
