Schools and consulates have been flooded with requests for documents after President Barack Obama announced a new program allowing young undocumented immigrants to apply for two-year renewable work permits.

Just three weeks after the Obama administration started accepting applications from young undocumented immigrants seeking to avoid deportation, the government already has approved 72,000 applications for deferred action.

Benita Veliz, a 27-year-old who came to the United States as a child, became the first-ever undocumented immigrant to speak at a party convention.

Jan Brewer issued an order on Wednesday barring undocumented immigrants who qualify for temporary legal status in the United States from receiving any state or local public benefits.

On August 15, the first of perhaps a million or more people who qualify for the DREAM Act will begin stepping forward to apply and pay fees for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

Today, August 15, 2012 marks a momentous day for the Hispanic community and for our country, nearly 1.7 million young immigrants will finally receive the opportunity to work for their dreams.