ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Following the announcement by President Barack Obama that some children of illegal immigrants will be given two years of leniency to secure work visas, a Latino civic organization in Atlanta sponsored two voter drives Saturday aimed at the Latino community.
Organizer Jerry Gonzales said the registration drives have been in the works for months, and have nothing to do with President Obama's announcement Friday.
"I think the president was smart politically, in the sense that there is overwhelming support for the DREAM Act within the Latino community, and there is overwhelming support for the youth in this situation," said Gonzales, executive director of Galeo, a Latino civic leadership organization based in Atlanta.
"It is something the president could have done much earlier, we're glad the president did it now. But we ultimately need a final solution, which is comprehensive immigration reform," Gonzales said.
Gonzales said the voter drives will continue weekly through the summer and fall, in collaboration with several radio stations.
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