Chanting their support of Obama's immigration action

At a gathering called "Chant Down the Walls," members of Juntos, a social-justice group for Latino immigrants, gathered in the crisp morning air Friday outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office.

They shouted "Si se puede" - "Yes We Can" in Spanish - sang, and waved flags from Latin American countries, one day after President Obama announced he was taking executive action to change immigration policy.

Many in the crowd sang along with musicians playing guitars and the wooden box drum called a cajon.

Erika Almiron, executive director of Juntos, said the rally of about 60 people was in support of immigrants being detained in the ICE headquarters.

"We are doing music for the people who are detained on the inside, giving them inspiration," Almiron said. "We're letting them know we are here and that we're going to fight for everybody in there."

Almiron said about 300 immigration supporters had gathered at Community College of Philadelphia on Thursday evening to watch the president's speech.

She said Juntos supported Obama's action, which aims to protect about four million immigrants from deportation, but wants further movement. Almiron added that about seven million would be unprotected.

"Our thoughts are that we have four million who have qualified and we have seven million to go. It's bittersweet," Almiron said of Obama's announcement.

Olivia Vazquez, 20, a leader of the Juntos youth group, said Obama's action protects children through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which provides temporary protection from deportation for certain unauthorized migrants who come to the United States as children.

Vazquez said Juntos would like to see more done for older immigrants.

"We know this is a victory for our community, but it's also very heartbreaking for older people who did not qualify," Vazquez said. "We are happy for the people who do qualify, but we are going to keep fighting, and that is why we're here."

Mauro Tlatenco, an immigrant from Mexico, held up a banner that read, "Not one more deportation."

Through a translator, Tlatenco said he received a deportation order two years ago.

"I have to go to court Dec. 1 and I don't know what the outcome would be," he said.

Standing next to men holding the flags of Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Cuba, Miguel Andrade, a youth leader for Juntos and a native of Colombia, said the rally was part of a national day of action by immigrant groups at ICE offices in 20 cities.

He said the rallies support Obama's "monumental action" on immigration.

"This is a bittersweet moment for a lot of people in our communities," Andrade said. "We are very happy and excited for the people who qualify under President Obama's announcement. We also know this is only a beginning.

"We also know that millions of people are going to be left without protection. And we are here to say we are going to keep fighting."

Amid chants of "Let my people go," Almiron said Obama's action was a good start.

"It will make a difference for those who qualify. It is life-changing," she said. "And it is the result of the organizing and the courage and bravery of people that are here right now and who have come out of the shadows."