Local Latino activists tout Obama immigration reform

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - It was both celebration and call to action. On the anniversary of a Presidential order lifting the threat of deportation from the undocumented parents of citizen children, local activists urged Latinos to flex their electoral muscle and vote.

"A path to the White House has to have the Latino vote and that is power and our community understands that," said Jessica Caballero, President of the Service Employees International Union in Texas.

"Today is the day that change starts. We have to be the change and the voice for those who cannot," added Vanessa Vasquez, a student at the University of Houston-Downtown.

But recently President Obama's order has run into a legal road block.

Republicans, led in court by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, have successfully challenged Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents.

The fate of DAPA, as its commonly known, will likely be decided by the Supreme Court.

Joining this fight are millions of undocumented young people granted refuge by the President back in 2012.

Francisco Delgado says he lived in constant fear of deportation for much of his young life.

Now he's on the cusp of graduating from UH-Downtown where he's emerged as a student leader and works legally as a history tutor.

"How can you talk about people you don't know? You live in America your entire life and you feel like you owe something to the United States because you have gone through the education system and you pledge allegiance to the United States and now you feel like you have this opportunity to make your voice heard," said Delgado.