On November 20, 2014, the President announced a series of executive actions that will help secure the border, prioritize deporting felons not families, and require certain undocumented immigrants to pass a criminal background check and pay taxes in order to temporarily stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation. You can learn more about these actions here:

• The White House: Fixing the System
• Department of Homeland Security: Key Facts on Immigration Action
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Immigration Action | En español
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Immigration Action

If you have questions about the new DHS enforcement priorities, the expanded deferred action programs or believe you are eligible for one of the new initiatives, please use one of the following public feedback mechanisms to have your questions answered or concerns registered with DHS.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

• If your situation involves an encounter with CBP at the United States border or checkpoint.

U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement

• If your case involves an individual in detention or subject to removal.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

• If your case involves applying for a new program initiative.

DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

• If you have concerns regarding an abuse of civil rights or civil liberties, including profiling on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity, by DHS employees, activities, or programs.

Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman

• If you need help with a case that is pending with USCIS and you have exhausted your options with USCIS’s customer service.

If you are still experiencing an issue with a request related to this guidance, you may also seek case assistance with the Ombudsman’s Office for inquiries by submitting a DHS 7001 or calling between.

Please note that these initiatives have not yet been implemented. USCIS is not accepting any requests or applications at this time. Beware of anyone who offers to help you submit an application or a request for any of these actions before they are available. You could become a victim of an immigration scam.

Over the coming months, DHS will produce detailed explanations, instructions, regulations and forms as necessary. While USCIS is not accepting requests or applications at this time, if you believe you may be eligible for one of the initiatives listed above, you can prepare by gathering documents that establish your:

• Identity;
• Relationship to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident; and
• Continuous residence in the United States over the last five years or more.

You can subscribe to receive an email from USCIS whenever additional information on these initiatives is available on their website.