A policy directive was issued Friday stating that some undocumented relatives of U.S. service members can now secure legal status. This nine page long memorandum is followed by the series of changes in the nation’s broken immigration system made by President Obama since he took office. The department already had the power to stop such deportations; however, the latest memo defines its scope and functions.

USCIS officials will now have the power to parole in place immigrant parents, spouses and children of the current U.S. service members, veterans and reservists. According to the change, these individuals can now apply to secure legal status in the United States.

The President is now making minor changes to the broken immigration system since the hopes of overhauling the immigration law are non-existent this year. As a presidential candidate, Obama had pledged twice to pass immigration reforms.  He has repeatedly announced that immigration reform is his top priority.

The President had asked the USCIS to deport serious criminal offenders and at the same time introduced the DACA program for kids brought into U.S. illegally and grew up here. The Democrat controlled Senate passed the immigration reform bill which the GOP controlled House is not ready to take up for a vote. House GOP has criticized the administrative changes.

All the White House can now do is introduce minor administrative changes in the immigration policies.

easyIME.com is a free service, which streamlines the immigration medical process for green card aspirants by helping them locate the right USCIS Civil Surgeon and schedule their USCIS immigration medical exam online. Green card aspirants can also find immigration lawyers near their zip code through this service.