LAREDO / LUBBOCK, Texas – The Consejo de Ley de Inmigración de Texas, a nonpartisan legal resource and policy nonprofit, is hosting a free bilingual (English/Spanish) legal hotline to provide general guidance related to President Biden’s recent executive action to promote family unity. The president is using his parole authority to allow certain United States citizens’ spouses and stepchildren without legal status to apply for Parole in Place (PIP) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The program begins accepting applications on August 19, 2024. It allows people to apply for permanent residency and eventually citizenship without having to leave the country.
Beware of scams, especially against using notary publics to complete the Parole in Place (PIP) immigration application. Notaries are not licensed or authorized to give legal advice on any legal matter. The term “notario público” (Spanish for “notary public”) has a different meaning for Spanish-speaking nations where “notarios” are licensed attorneys. In the U.S., however, notaries are not attorneys and are not necessarily authorized to provide legal services.
“We urge potential applicants to seek accredited legal professionals or call our free legal hotline for general guidance. Undocumented spouses who have been legally married to U.S. citizens as of June 17, 2024, and who have been continuously present in the U.S. for at least 10 years as of June 17, 2024, and their children may qualify for a pathway to legal status. Beware of scams and notaries who are not licensed attorneys or authorized to give legal advice. Avoid fraudulent services that could cause applicants to lose their fee and risk being placed in removal proceedings,” said Jessica Cisneros, managing attorney for the Texas Immigration Law Council.
HOW TO GET FREE LEGAL HELP: 956-815-2827 (Bilingual: English and Spanish)
QUIEN: Consejo de Ley de Inmigración de Texas (TxILC)
QUÉ TxILC Parole in Place Hotline: 956-815-2827 – Free, Bilingual (English/Spanish)
CUANDO: August 12 through August 26, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Central Time)
BACKGROUND:
- Texas Immigration Law Council: Parole in Place Program website: piptexas.org
- Texas Immigration Law Council: Uso de Notarios para el Parole in Place
- White House: FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces New Actions to Keep Families Together (June 18, 2024)
- DHS: Fact Sheet: DHS Announces New Process to Promote the Unity and Stability of Families | Homeland Security (July 17, 2024)
- USCIS: Reminders on the Process to Promote the Unity and Stability of Families (July 17, 2024)
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The Consejo de Ley de Inmigración de Texas is a statewide nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization formed in 2023 to promote and protect the rights of immigrants and refugees of all nationalities in Texas. The Council promotes meaningful access to justice for immigrants and refugees by serving as a statewide immigrant legal resource center. The Council brings together constituencies across the political spectrum to advance constructive dialogue on immigrant solutions for Texas.
