How America Reacted to Obama's Immigration Announcement In Photos

The view from sea to shining sea about the president's executive order.

ByABC News
November 21, 2014, 2:08 PM
Laura Moreno, of Nampa, hugs her good friend Krista Busmante after watching President Obama's speech on immigration reform, Nov. 20, 2014 at the Hispanic Cultural Center in Nampa, Idaho. "It's really big because families won't get separated," said Moreno. Moreno was nine years old when she came into this country illegally with her mother.
Laura Moreno, of Nampa, hugs her good friend Krista Busmante after watching President Obama's speech on immigration reform, Nov. 20, 2014 at the Hispanic Cultural Center in Nampa, Idaho. "It's really big because families won't get separated," said Moreno. Moreno was nine years old when she came into this country illegally with her mother.
Adam Eschbach/The Press-Tribune/AP Photo

— -- Americans across the country gathered Thursday night to watch President Obama address the nation on the executive action he will take on immigration.

The president announced the most sweeping action on immigration in three decades, providing relief for an estimated 4.1 million undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and about 300,000 undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children.

"I know the politics of this issue are tough," Obama said during his address. "But let me tell you why I have come to feel so strongly about it. Over the past few years, I have seen the determination of immigrant fathers who worked two or three jobs without taking a dime from the government, and at risk at any moment of losing it all, just to build a better life for their kids."

Here's a look at some of the reactions from across the country:

California

Many emotions at gathering to watch President Obama's announcement. #immigration #not1more

Lucera Herrera, a researcher at the UCLA Labor Center, wrote in an e-mail to ABC News that this photo represented one of the joyful reactions--but that wasn't the feeling of the entire crowd: "After the President's announcement, the crowd was silent for a while, and then mixed reactions emerged," Herrera wrote. "Many DREAMers and their families were devastated to learn their families would be excluded from administrative relief, while others rejoiced from the temporary solution to their immigration situation - like the family in the photo."

Arizona

diegonacho Angel hugs his mother, Guadalupe, after Obama's announcement. Bittersweet moment. The community fought hard for today's executive action. While grateful for this victory, many parents like Guadalupe don't qualify. This is one step forward for the community, we are ready to continue the fight.

Texas

Washington, DC

Florida

Seattle

New York City