Event to provide local immigrants with information on applying, qualifications and other important information on temporary relief from deportation

Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-Queens), along with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), will hold an informational forum on President Obamaâ€™s recent executive actions on immigration, which seek to protect five million undocumented immigrants from deportation.

The event, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February 23 in the auditorium of Elmhurst Hospital Center, will help local immigrants learn and understand all they need to know about the Presidentâ€™s program such as the application process and whether or not they qualify for temporary relief from deportation. There will also be guidance on navigating the nationâ€™s complicated immigration system, and tips to prevent immigrants from becoming victims of executive action-immigration scams. A question and answer session will follow.

Elmhurst Hospital Center is located at 79-01 Broadway in Elmhurst, Queens.

\"The executive actions taken by President Obama are good for our country and it is progress in our fight to enact comprehensive immigration reform,\" said Meng. \"But there is also confusion and misinformation about it which is why I am partnering with USCIS to host this important seminar. I urge all who stand to be affected by the Presidentâ€™s executive actions to attend.â€

Taking part in the presentation will be the Chief of Staff of the USCIS New York City field office as well as several other officials from the agency. Congresswoman Meng will deliver remarks as well. The entire program is expected to last until approximately 7 p.m.

The executive actions announced by the President on November 20 will allow certain undocumented individuals to apply for temporary relief from deportation.

Â·The first program is deferred action for the parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. These individuals will be able apply for three-year work permits if they entered the country before January 1, 2010. The program is also known as Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA), and applications will be available in May.

Â·The second category is the expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program, which will now be open to all people who were brought to the U.S. before their 16th birthday and prior to January 1, 2010. The previous version of DACA capped the age of applicants at 30. Forms for the expanded DACA program will be obtainable later this month.

The forum is open to the public free of charge. Parking is available in the hospitalâ€™s parking garage. The location is also accessible by mass transit. To RSVP, contact Rep. Mengâ€™s office at (718) 445-7860 or MengRSVP@mail.house.gov. RSVPâ€™s are not required, but encouraged.

Congresswoman Grace Meng to organize forum on immigration