New Executive Actions on Immigration

In November 2014, new executive actions on immigration were unveiled by President Barack Obama. These actions aimed to address illegal immigration while offering deportation relief options for specific individuals. The key initiatives introduced include:

• Expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program – This initiative targets young individuals who entered the U.S. before turning 16 and have resided in the U.S. since January 1, 2010. The DACA program’s duration and work authorization will now extend from 2 to 3 years.
• Introduction of the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability program (DAPA) – DAPA aims to assist parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who have been in the U.S. since January 1, 2010. They can request deferred action and secure a 3-year work authorization after clearing background checks.
• Enhanced use of provisional waivers for unlawful presence – This initiative will make the spouses and children of lawful permanent residents, as well as U.S. citizens’ children, eligible for these waivers.
• Refinement of existing immigration programs – This involves updating and modernizing U.S. immigration programs, emphasizing job creation and fostering U.S. economic growth.
• Raising public awareness about citizenship and enabling U.S. naturalization applicants to use credit cards for application fees.

Next Steps for the New Immigration Executive Actions

With the announcement of these executive actions on immigration, the ball is now in the court of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). They are tasked with formulating protocols, guidelines, forms, and public information regarding the aforementioned initiatives. As of now, USCIS advises individuals to:

• Stay vigilant against immigration scams that falsely claim immediate application assistance for these programs. Realistically, these programs will start accepting applications by mid- to late-February 2015 at the earliest.
• Begin gathering essential documents for their applications, such as those proving identity, relationships to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, and continuous U.S. residency for the past 5 years or more.

If you’re considering applying for any of these new immigration initiatives and need guidance, don’t hesitate to contact the expert Los Angeles immigration attorney at Hanlon Law Group.

Immigration Attorney in Los Angeles, California: Hanlon Law Group, P.C.

At Hanlon Law Group, P.C., our Los Angeles immigration attorney boasts over 15 years of experience, adeptly handling a spectrum of immigration and DAPA cases. This ranges from straightforward immigration applications to intricate federal court litigations.

We pride ourselves on blending state-of-the-art technology with a personal touch, ensuring efficient service delivery. This means you can anticipate swift case progression while being assured that your queries will be addressed promptly and transparently by the Hanlon Law Group attorney.

Get in Touch

To delve deeper into our citizenship, immigration, and deportation defense offerings, call us at (626) 765-4641 or (866) 489-7612. Alternatively, you can email us using the form on our website. From our Pasadena office, we cater to clients across Los Angeles, throughout California, and globally.

We provide complimentary, confidential initial consultations, offering expert advice tailored to your immigration needs. Moreover, our multilingual capabilities encompass languages like Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Bahasa Indonesian, Tagalog, and Fukienese.