Immigrants disappointed but not deterred by judge's ruling

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Immigrants expressed disappointment today after a federal judge put a hold on President Barack Obama's plan to protect more than 4 million people living illegally in the U.S. from deportation. But many said they haven't lost hope.

A look at immigrant views of Obama's programs:

Growing up in Guatemala, Keyla Betancurth used to watch her single mother cry at night because she could not afford to buy food for her children. Betancourt left school at 12 to work at a bakery to help. Then, at 17, she took a bigger step, paying a smuggler to get her to the U.S.

"I wanted a better future for myself and for my mom," said the 28-year-old, who wants to apply for Obama's program for the parents of Americans. "Now, I'm a mother, and I want the best for my kids. I don't want my kids to suffer like I did."

Betancurth, who has three young children, has been a farmworker in California and Iowa and, since moving to Denver three years ago, a maid. Her husband, who is from Honduras, paints houses.

For both, steady, well-paid work is difficult to find because they lack Social Security numbers. She wants to return to school to study hairdressing and, one day, open her own salon.

"My big dream is to study," she said.