One of the main features of president-elect Donald Trump's campaign was his talk of harsh penalties for immigrants who had come to the us illegally.

Many of those immigrants are in a panic, wondering what might happen to them and their families

This is especially true for a group of young people called, "dreamers,” who were brought to the us by their parents and essentially "pardoned" by President Obama.

 

29-year-old Angela Cabrera is one of them. She came to the states with her family from Mexico when she was a teenager,

“I have been in this country for almost 16 years, this is my country.”

Angela feels the us is her home, even without paperwork to prove it. She’s undocumented. Until now she’s been able to build a life in the Boston area without much worry. She says started working as soon as she finished at East Boston High,

“We are not criminals we are here to work we are here to take the opportunities.”  

But listening to President-Elect Donald Trump during the campaign was devastating.

“ It broke my heart to hear what he says about Mexicans.”  

From his stance on immigration, to his commitment to build a wall at the Mexican border. Trump’s victory is now Angela’s worst nightmare.

Even though he’s softened his rhetoric and now says he will only deport criminals, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh isn’t convinced. He says Boston will remain a safe haven,

“I think the fears that people have they shouldn’t have them in our city.”

But Angela worries it may not be up to city officials. She also doesn’t want to lose her DACA status, deferred action for childhood arrivals. DACA was created by President Obama 4 years ago to protect thousands of undocumented young people from deportation. Generally, kids brought here by their parents years ago. Through DACA,  Angela got a social security number and access to educational opportunities,

 

“DACA it was 360 degree change in my life it was the best thing that can happen to me.

after i got my DACA I went to get my driver’s license I feel like I have everything.”

But DACA is one of President Obama’s polices that Donald Trump has vowed to reverse.

State Representative Jeff Sanchez says he will be watching closely.

“We’ve always had some discussions on the role of state government especially since there’s been gridlock in Washington on the immigration issue.”

Sanchez will introduce legislation to protect people like Angela if necessary,

“There aren’t any defined laws to protect undocumented immigrants I think it’s what will President-Elect Trump do?"

Of the roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants in the united states about 150,000 of them live in Massachusetts. Angela Cabrera has a message for Donald Trump while everyone watches and waits,

“You have to research all the good people not everybody is bad.”

Angela worries that no matter what she does, she may not  be able to change that perception.