Act now: FIEL recommends to take action on immigration processes ahead of January

People with pending immigration processes or those who might qualify for existing relief should apply for available programs today ahead of the possible changes that might come with President Donald Trump's second term, said representatives with FIEL , an organization that offers legal aid and other services to immigrants in the region.

"We are going to handle this as if it was a hurricane," said FIEL Campaigns Director Alain Cisneros in Spanish during a virtual informational session on Monday. "What are we going to do before? What are we going to do during? And what are we going to do after?"

Cisneros and other FIEL representatives advised the more than 40 virtual attendees to start preparing today for what could happen in January when Trump takes office. Trump relied heavily on an anti-immigration campaign during his latest candidacy, promising to continue his work to secure the U.S.-México border and to target those residing in the U.S. without legal status, even promising massive deportations.

Because of this, it is important for those at risk of losing protective statuses or those without legal status to use the next 60 days to find reliable information on any program they could qualify for and apply for it now, Cisneros said.

"Right now, what we are recommending is to not take any of this brazenly and to not leave any pending things or migration processes for later," Aura Espinosa, director of legal aid at FIEL, said in Spanish.

These are some of the recommendations made by FIEL representatives. It's important to remember that not every recommendation will apply for every case, they noted, so it's important to seek a personal consultation with FIEL staff or attorneys at 713-346-3435 or via email at .

For those who have permanent residence or other protections such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, FIEL recommends the following:

Mixed-status families:

Community leaders:

FIEL has attorneys dedicated to migrant services on staff and recommends verifying that any attorney you might hire are licensed to handle immigration processes.

The organization will be announcing additional virtual sessions and other community meetings in Houston and surrounding areas over the next 60 days. Representatives said they plan to work through the holidays to make sure people have access to the information they need ahead of January.