4 Myths Regarding the Executive Order on Immigration

On Nov. 20, 2014, President Obama addressed the nation about the Executive Order on Immigration Law, as the White House transcribes. Ever since, immigration lawyers have received countless emails, calls and in-person consultations with scared, hopeful and determined immigrants. Most want to understand expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Deferred Action for Parents.

However, the executive order is a complex legal matter, and there are several myths surrounding it. If you are in the United States illegally and want to make your status legal, you should consider getting help from an experienced immigration attorney in Newark. Contact the Law Office of Eric M. Mark at 973-453-2009 to discuss your circumstances, and read on to debunk the four most common myths about the executive order:

• The president signed a law giving undocumented immigrants green cards.

President Obama did not sign any law that allows undocumented immigrants to receive green cards. In fact, he did not sign any laws at all.

Instead, President Obama summarized the day’s events in a short speech, and the Secretary of Homeland Security handed out roughly 20 legal memoranda. None of these permit anyone to receive a green card.

• Those living in the United States for more than a decade are entitled to a green card.

This myth is untrue and may have originated in the Cancellation of Removal, which is an actual defense against deportation. President Clinton signed the Cancellation of Removal into law in 1997, but every year, only a few thousand immigrants receive Cancellation. Additionally, only a judge may grant a Cancellation of Removal in immigration court, and the 10-year requirement is only one of many.

• The new executive order will provide immigrants with legal status from Jan. 1, 2015.

It is now May, and the executive order has not given legal status to a single person. This date refers to specific changes made to enforcement policies, which now review those that apply for Deferred Action according to the terms of the executive order. The reality is that you may wait as long as 18 months for a three-year work permit—and only if you qualify for it.

• Parents of children with DACA can now apply for DAPA.

If your child receives Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, it does not automatically make you eligible for Deferred Action for Parents. In fact, the executive order stipulates that DAPA requirements include solid evidence that applicants are either parents of green card holders or U.S. citizens.

Stories, myths and rumors abound in all immigration matters. If you are Portuguese, Polish, Pakistani, Peruvian, Mexican or from somewhere else, you should never believe anyone who tries to convince you of these myths because he or she may be trying to defraud you.

Call the Law Office of Eric M. Mark at 973-453-2009 for the facts about the Executive Order on Immigration Law. A compassionate immigration lawyer can help you understand how this order applies to you and your family.