Protesters occupy Obama campaign headquarters

CINCINNATI - Even though campaign season is in full swing, the local Obama headquarters is in lockdown.

Inside, two student protesters, wearing their graduation caps and gowns, are occupying the office.

Since Wednesday, they've been demanding the president make good on his support for the DREAM Act.

"He hasn't really come through," said Cruz Bonlarron, a second-generation Puerto Rican.

Though Bonlarron is an American citizen, he says he has been discriminated against because of his Latino heritage, and sympathizes with the plight of immigrants brought to this country as children.

Speaking by phone through a window, Bonlarron and Marco Saavedra aren't convinced Friday's executive order goes far enough.

The issue is personal for Saavedra, who was raised in the United States but was born in Mexico.

"It's so close to being the concrete victory that we wanted," Saavedra said. "But at the same time, we know that it's just a start because it's not a pathway to citizenship. It doesn't open a lot of other avenues to resources.  But if we could at least live without the fear of the daily death threat of deportation, i think it's definitely a huge burden lifted off our shoulders."

The order allows certain young people who were brought to this  country to be deferred from deportation on a case by case basis:

1. Come to the United States under the age of 16;

2. Have continuously resided in the United States for at least 5 years preceding the date of the order, and are present in the United States on the date of the order;

3. Are currently in school, have graduated from high school, have obtained a general education development certificate, or are honorably discharged veterans of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States;

4. Have not been convicted of a felony offense, a significant misdemeanor offense, multiple misdemeanor offenses, or otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety;

5. Are not above the age of thirty.

The protestors say the National Immigrant Youth Alliance will evaluate the meaning of the executive order before they decide whether to end their occupation.

"I feel it's a step in the right direction," Bonlarron said. "But I feel like there need to be more steps."