The head of a top federal immigration agency has urged undocumented immigrants to utilize the temporary legal status opportunities provided by President Barack Obama's executive actions.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Leon Rodriguez told immigrant advocates at the National Immigrant Integration Conference that undocumented immigrants should not be worried about applying for the various temporary stay options, including the expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the new Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) programs.

"For all those people who are thinking about participating in a deferred action program: Stop worrying. Participate with confidence," Rodriguez said in Spanish. "Remember that in every moment that an American president has created a new immigration program, that program has been respected by other presidents."

USCIS is tasked to manage the DACA and DAPA programs. Obama's executive action expanded DACA for applicants to seek a renewable three-year stay instead of two years. Parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who have been in the country since Jan. 1, 2010, can request deferred action and employment authorization for three years as part of the DAPA program.

Rodriguez told immigrant advocates that applying for programs as a result of Obama's executive actions may protect them from deportation. Rodriguez said parents don't have to worry anymore about doing simple outside tasks such as bringing their child to school or visiting a doctor's office. He also said the undocumented immigrants eligible for the expanded or new programs will be allowed to receive a work permit and obtain a better job.

During an interview with reporters prior to his speech, Rodriguez noted the personal information of future undocumented immigrant applicants would not be shared with fellow federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. Also under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE is tasked with the deportations of undocumented immigrants from the U.S.

"The only circumstances under which information is shared with ICE is in the event that somebody has either a disqualifying criminal history or is somebody who we determine to pose a threat to national security. Otherwise that information as a matter of our protocols is kept confidential," said Rodriguez.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Rodriguez announced more than 800 additional staff members will be hired to assist the application process for the undocumented immigrants. The USCIS reportedly received 5,000 applications for the government jobs.

As Latin Post reported, approximately 5 million undocumented immigrants are eligible to receive temporary protections in the U.S. Potential immigrant applicants are being cautioned about "anyone who offers to help" submit an application.

Joanne Ferreira, public affairs officer of ethnic media for USCIS, told Latin Post that combating immigration services scams is a "priority" for the agency.

"We are committed to combating them and the unauthorized practice of immigration law (UPIL)," said Ferreira. "We seek to educate applicants about immigration scams and ensure that applicants know how to find qualified legal advice and assistance in completing and submitting forms to USCIS."

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