"Today's proposed Executive Order could provide relief for over four million undocumented aspiring Americans, including tens of thousands - if not more - South Asians," said South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) executive director Suman Raghunathan.
Coupled with proposals to expand available visas and address long wait times for many immigrants, this relief is welcome news to South Asians nationwide as we continue to work toward a legislative solution, she said.
"We remain hopeful that today's announcement will include the parents or immediate family members of those eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Unfortunately, many aspiring Americans will remain excluded from the Affordable Care Act health care exchanges," she said.
"We can and must ensure immigrant families that they can live in their communities with dignity and respect, and we must stop deportations that are tearing our communities apart," she said.
Obama today used his executive power to announce a series of administrative measures to provide legal status to over five million illegal immigrants in the country, including those from India.
The executive actions, said to be one of the largest measure by a US President on immigration, are expected to help a significant number of Indians in the technology field, especially those having H-1B visas.