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At a rally in front of the Mexican Consulate in downtown Los Angeles, Citlali Gomez was cautiously optimistic.

The 34-year-old came to the U.S. 12 years ago and started a family. Life is better in America, she said, though she fears driving and entering government buildings. Her cousin was deported.

But President Obama’s announcement of sweeping changes to the nation’s immigration policy gave her sudden hope, and a reason to “celebrate a little bit.”

“We’re going to leave the darkness,” Gomez said. “We’re going to stop being scared.”

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