Updated Aug 16, 2012 - 1:11 pm
Young hopefuls protest Brewer's executive order
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About two dozen young illegal immigrants spent Wednesday night at the Capitol to protest Gov. Brewer's reaffirmation that the immigrants will not receive state benefits.
Brewer issued an executive order for state agenices to withhold public benefits to young illegal immigrants who get work permits under the Obama administration's deferred deporation program.
Joshua Montano will apply to stay in the United States and said this was just the latest in a series of attacks on the Hispanic community by the governor.
"We're not going to let Gov. Brewer try to crush our dreams of working for this country, of being contributing members to this society," he said.
Added protester Carla Chavarria, "In Arizona, 73 percent of Arizona constituents support the DREAM Act -- why doesn't she?" The numbers are based on a state poll taken by the Merrill/Morrison Institute in the spring.
The group delivered a laundry list of questions for the governor, who would not meet with them. Instead she sent spokesman Matt Benson to deliver her message.
"If there are lawmakers, state legislators, democrats that would like to change the state law to individuals who received deferred action from the federal government, they ought to bring that as a bill," he said.
The Governor's Office estimates that 80,000 illegal immigrants in Arizona will file the paperwork to stay in the U.S.
Jim Cross, Reporter
