The November elections have come and gone. The Republican Party has regained control of Congress. A passage of immigration reform seems more contentious than ever. Many immigrant advocate groups continue to urge meaningful reform in our broken immigration system. On November 12, 2014, the Obama Administration announced that it will unveil a comprehensive immigration plan through executive action as early as this Friday.
It is rumored that there is already a draft proposal from the Department of Homeland Security to change the immigration enforcement policies. The most meaningful provision for unlawful immigrants is the expansion of deferred action. With the new policy, deferred action should be extended to parents and spouses of US citizens and legal permanent residents. It is estimated that this provision will allow 5 million illegal immigrants remain in the US legally. Additionally, the proposed executive action would also extend the benefits to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to cover children that came into the US after the 2007 (the original cut-off date for DACA). Although Congress is split on immigration reform, we firmly believe that the President will act unilaterally to expand immigration rights. The President cannot unilaterally create a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, but he can protect them from removal. The executive order should force Congress to deal with meaningful immigration reform.
These changes could be the difference between devastating family separation and family unity. At Wilner & O’Reilly, we have helped thousands of people and families stay together. Unfortunately, we still see many deserving individuals left without relief who can benefit from reform. Many of these individuals are hard-working and only wish to stay with their families in the United States.
Although we are hopeful that this executive action will help many people, please keep in mind that there will be certain requirements and eligibilities to qualify for relief. It is imperative that you seek a competent and licensed attorney to assess your eligibility for relief. In many instances, we have seen people victimized by unscrupulous notarios and consultants by filing frivolous applications which led to removal. Please be wary of scams.
At Wilner & O’Reilly, immigration law is our only practice. We have board certified specialists, former immigration officers and experienced licensed attorneys to ensure that you achieve your immigration goals. Schedule your free consultation today.
