Michigan's 100,000 illegal immigrants await Obama order

President Barack Obama's expected signing of an immigration order this week could legalize about 30,000 undocumented immigrants in Michigan, offering relief to many of the state's roughly 100,000 immigrants who live here illegally.

Obama said Wednesday he will bypass Congress to order executive action preventing deportation for up to 5 million people living illegally in the U.S. — a move that Republicans slammed as overstepping his presidential authority.

The president is to announce his plan tonight at 8 and then sign on Friday the executive actions at a Las Vegas high school with large numbers of non-English speakers.

Obama's executive order would likely be aimed at spouses and parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have been in the U.S. for several years. The order would also expand the program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), for those who were brought to the U.S. illegally as kids by their parents. It would not, however, offer relief for parents of DACA youth, as had been previously expected.

Michigan's undocumented population is smaller compared to other states such as Texas and California, but they are a significant part of the economy, many working in a variety of industries: farming, restaurants, auto supply shops, landscaping. More than half of them are working, 41% are homeowners, and about one-third of them earn 200% of the poverty level, said Global Detroit, an immigrant advocacy group.

The expected announcement is drawing a mixed reaction in Michigan's undocumented immigrant population, with some praising the move, while others saying it's incomplete. Many are unsure whether the plan will affect them specifically.

"I'm kind of excited, but I don't know how that's going to work for me," said Jorge Garcia, 35, a Lincoln Park landscaper who could qualify under Obama's order. "We don't want to get our hopes up too much."

Married with two children, Jorge Garcia was brought to the U.S. from Mexico when was 10 years old by his aunt. His parents had arrived earlier. Garcia was able to get a driver's license, but he and his parents are living in the U.S. illegally. He's been ordered deported twice.

Adonis Flores, 26, of Detroit is also cautiously optimistic about Obama's executive order.

Flores was 8 when his parents brought him across the border as they crossed deserts along the Mexican-Arizona border in search of a better life.

Today, Flores is 26 and a business student at Wayne State University. He qualified to stay in the U.S. legally under the DACA program, which will likely be expanded under Obama's order. But his mother, Mirabel Flores, 47, is still undocumented and might not qualify to stay.

Still, he's pleased for those who will qualify under the plan.

"I am very happy for all the families who have struggled for decades and will finally be able to live without fear of deportation," Flores said. "It's going to be a big boost for the community.

At the same time, "it's going to break a lot of hearts," he said.

Flores and others want Congress to pass immigration reform instead of relying on an order, which could be overturned under the next president.

Jose Franco, 27, of Detroit, also a DACA recipient, said Obama's order "is long overdue."

"We're kind of disappointed that a lot of people are going to be left out."

Franco, who crossed over with his parents from Mexico into Texas when he was 2, is hoping that his mother could qualify under Obama's order.

While Franco is not a U.S. citizen, he has two brothers who are, which means his mother would probably qualify to gain legal status.

Franco is hoping that would enable her to obtain better jobs. Two years ago, she lost her job at an auto supplier after it found out she was undocumented, he said.

There are about 11 million undocumented immigrants nationally, 5 million of whom could be affected by Obama's order, which has brought sharp criticism from Republican leaders.

"Emperor Obama ignores the American people," said House Speaker John Boehner's spokesman.

Tonight, immigrant advocates will be gathering in southwest Detroit to watch Obama's announcement.

Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or 313-223-4792. Follow him on Twitter @nwarikoo.

Associated Press contributed to this report.