In the United States we have an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living within our borders, who came here searching for a new life.

Back when our country began, the “everyone’s welcome” state of mind was perfect and great, because we needed to build up our populations and create today’s America.

While it’s still a great state of mind to have, over the years it’s caused us more trouble than foreseen.

President Barack Obama recently made a large overhaul to the country’s immigration enforcement by changing the way his administration enforces the nation’s current immigration laws. Obama did this through an executive order after Republicans and Democrats in Congress failed to pass laws for comprehensive immigration reform.

When he announced the actions he was taking he made a televised speech explaining what the change meant for the millions of undocumented immigrants living in the United States. He explained that it would be OK many of them to “come out of the shadows.”

The changes would allow millions of immigrants temporary permits to work in the country to extend the amount of time they have here.

In his speech Obama said: “If you’ve been in America more than five years. If you have children who are American citizens or illegal residents. If you register, pass a criminal background check and you’re willing to pay your fair share of taxes, you’ll be able to apply to stay in this country temporarily without fear of deportation.”

While the executive order could have some short term benefits for these immigrants, the change is only temporary. Executive orders are at the whim of whoever is the president at the time and Obama’s term will be over in January of 2016.

So this is a temporary solution to a big problem in our country today.

No matter how much hope this may build for immigrants, there’s still the lingering fear following them wherever they go.

Questions have been asked; What will happen when Obama is no longer president and someone else takes office? What will happen to all of those immigrants who came out of the shadows?

As much as Obama wants them to feel comfortable with letting the world know who they are, he can’t expect that from them.

Throughout his time in office Obama has been working for a solution, however Congress hasn’t been able to pass anything because of Republican opposition.

Obama challenged Congress by saying, “And to those members of Congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better… I have one answer: Pass a bill.”

Obama has done all he can to help the immigrants live here in peace and harmony. We believe Congress must to come to a consensus and find a way to help the immigrants of the United States to create a unified country.