Charleston, SC - Leaders of the Latino community are pushing for a massive change to the immigration reform system. They want to see an end to deportation that leaves families in disarray. At the same time, a new law in South Carolina is creating tension for illegal immigrants.

They came to the U.S. in search of a better life. They were looking for a chance to make a living and to provide for families here and back home. Some of these people are legal U.S. citizens, others are here illegally and their future is uncertain.

“We are hoping we can see a change where they become legal to our system and stay with their families and stop separation and deportation,” said Diana Salazar, President of the Charleston Latino Association.

Undocumented workers have been the target of Homeland Security raids across the country. Efrin Salvia, an illegal worker, worries he could be next.

“We are just families that come to work. We don’t come to take money away from anyone, just to work and have a better life,” said Salvia.

The undocumented workers in South Carolina face an even more pressing matter. It’s a new immigration law that went into effect January 1st. The measure demands employers to verify citizenship on all new hires. If a business is found in violation, the company will face a fine and the employee must be fired.

“The only thing that can happen is I can end up losing my house, maybe I might leave this country and my children go to a country they don’t know of,” said Salvia.

Today, an effort to keep that from happening. Leaders and activists in the Latino community are taking testimony in hopes their words will lead to sweeping reform. They want to give families the chance to legalize their citizenship without the risk of deportation, putting parents and children on the opposite sides of the border.

The Latino community is calling on President Elect Barack Obama (web | news | bio) to put a stop to immigration raids within the first 90 days of office, until the government can reform its immigration policy.

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