Immigrant rights groups have fought long and hard to press for immigration reform through protests in the nation's capital and across the nation.

They've handled disappointment after President Obama twice postponed announcing any kind of resolution to remove punitive programs that tore families apart through its secure communities program or provide any relief for the many decades immigrant families had contributed and supported the American economy. On Thursday night in a 15-minute speech, some families finally heard of plans that will provide some relief.

The programs will take several months to implement, but immigrant groups are calling the news "victory."

"We made a huge breakthrough for immigrant rights. There will be five million immigrant families whose lives will be changed thanks to the president's action after years of congressional inaction. What we understand about the proposal is that it is expanding Deferred Action for young people, it's including everyone who has a US citizen or permanent resident child, and also making important shifts to the way detention and deportation happens. All of these [reforms] mentioned are incredibly significant," Andrea Mercado, co-chair of We Belong Together, told Latin Post.

We Belong Together is a group of women who fight for commonsense immigration reform. Mercado said that, for the first time, domestic workers will be able to benefit as will farm workers, restaurant workers and construction workers who have been in the shadows far too long and been vulnerable to abuse and over work and exploitation.

"At the same time, there are many who will not be included in the president's proposal. Many domestic workers who leave their children behind in their own countries and come here to support their families and take care of America's children, many of them will not qualify," Mercado said. "So there is joy in the community, but there is disappoint and sadness. What we are hearing throughout the immigrant's rights movement community, however, is that we are all committed to keep fighting." 

Faith in New Jersey organized a "Watching Party" like many others across the U.S. Over 100 parishioners turned up for the viewing party at Sacred Heart Church in New Brunswick. They were both anxious and excited.

"Yesterday was a victory for the immigrant community. After years of advocacy, after years of organizing, we have actually seen the president use his executive legal authority to provide relief from deportation for millions of undocumented immigrants. Estimates are saying up to 5 million undocumented immigrants will be protected as a result of the president's announcement," Carlos Rojas, organizer with Faith in New Jersey, told Latin Post.

"It's 5 million out of 11 million, so there are many, many families that are being left out of the president's announcement, and we should be holding Congress accountable to provide a solution for those families."

Rojas said after the announcement he heard over and over from families being excited because family members would qualify, but also a lot of disappointment extended family members wouldn't qualify.

"A parishioner said she qualified because she has U.S. born children and she came here when she was younger, but her mother doesn't qualify. That has been a general sense that the reforms will benefit many, but also leave many more out. So it is a bittersweet day. Definitely a victory, but there is a lot of work to do," Rojas said.