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To Javier Soledad, the announcement by President Barack Obama that he will issue executive orders to protect 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation — tens of thousands of them in Utah — was a gift.

"It's really exciting," the Salt Lake City man said Thursday. "It's the best Christmas present you could have received from the president."

Soledad, the father of two young children, said the changes will keep families together and make people feel more secure.

"It's a very nice feeling because I've seen so many deportations," he said.

Soledad, a native of Mexico who has lived in the United States for 15 years, was one of about 75 people who gathered at Centro Civico Mexicano in Salt Lake City to watch Obama's announcement. The enthusiastic crowd broke out into applause and cheers thoughout the speech.

Brandy Farmer, president of Centro Civico Mexicano, said the economy will get a boost as people come out of the shadows.

Earlier Thursday, Maria Berenice Cruz said she has fretted every day that immigration officials would show up and haul her away from her family — angst she figures will disappear with the new immigration orders.

"I will be able to celebrate Thanksgiving and the holidays with my family without fear," the Salt Lake City resident said. "I may be able to visit my mother in Mexico."

Cruz has lived in the United States for nearly two decades, has three children who are U.S. citizens because they were born here, and has a clean criminal record.

Because she is here without papers, Cruz explained, "every day I think, 'What will happen to my kids if they come and tell me that I have to go back to Mexico.' Every day I am afraid."

But now the full-time homemaker, whose husband works in construction, says, "I may see my mother and brother. Maybe I can continue with my studies. Maybe I can get a good job."

And she may no longer need to worry, especially, about separation from her youngest special-needs daughter. "The disabled have more opportunities in America. That really is why I am still in this country — to give her more opportunity."

Archie Archuleta, past president of the Utah Coalition of La Raza, said the "great fear that our people have is suddenly being jackbooted and dragged out."

"That fear," he said, "permeates a lot of the life of immigrants. ... So I'm glad the president is acting."

Luis Garza, executive director of Comunidades Unidas, said up to 100,000 Utah immigrants could be affected by the president's announcement.

"This is a major victory for the immigrant community in Utah," he said. "It is a long overdue step toward justice."

Tony Yapias, director of Proyecto Latino de Utah, said the Latino community may be more excited than he has ever seen.

"No longer do parents have to worry when they leave in the morning if ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] agents are going to get them," he said. " ... We are going to see families stick together and improve their lives much more widely than we have before."

Yapias reported that many have called him, saying, "I just want that Social Security number, that work permit so I can start my own little coffee shop that I always dreamed of" or "I can't wait for my worker permit so I can get my contractor's license, so I can just work for myself."

Even so, he added, the community remains sad that about half the undocumented immigrants here will not be affected and that the action is temporary.

Even amid the joy, said state Sen. Luz Robles, D-Salt Lake City, many Latinos worry Congress may overturn Obama's actions.

"They are scared that if they go forward and bring information [to apply for programs]," she said, "it could be used against them. I think that's going to be a challenge."

Mark Alvarez, an immigration attorney and activist, said many Latinos "just have this feeling that it's about time that something was done. They've been waiting a long time for this."