Practical Strategies for Immigration Relief: Family-Based Immigration and Executive Actions

In light of the continued failure of the U.S. Congress to pass meaningful immigration reform and the continued dysfunction of our immigration system, President Obama announced a series of immigration policy changes though executive action during his presidency. This manual discusses the law, policy, and practice regarding the parts of President Obama’s executive action that have been implemented as of the time of this writing. These new changes, even if short-lived, can help many. They can provide individuals with much-needed immigration relief, and also provide a blueprint for future immigration policy and legislation. Many programs mentioned in this manual, such as parole, DACA, and the enforcement priorities, are in flux, particularly after the 2016 election. We therefore invite you to visit the Immigrant Legal Resource Center’s website at www.ilrc.org for updates and to join our education listserv by subscribing at www.ilrc.org/subscribe to receive email messages about updates to this manual as well as in-person and webinar trainings opportunities related to immigration executive actions.