The Department of Homeland Security announced today new formalized guidelines for allowing undocumented relatives of U.S. military members to legalize their immigration status. Known as “Parole in Place,” the program has existed for several years but was administered informally and without standard guidelines. Today’s memo specifically identifies spouses, children, and parents of 1) active-duty military members, 2) reservists who may be called up as part of the “Ready Force,” and 3) veterans of these forces as persons who might be eligible to have their deportations halted and/or apply for their green cards without leaving the country and thus triggering an unlawful presence bar. Since the grant of parole is discretionary, significant criminal violations or other negative factors would likely prevent the approval of the parole application.
New Legalization Possibilities for Relatives of U.S. Military Service Men/Women
by Jeremy Jennings | Nov 15, 2013 | Family Immigration, Immigration Law Blog