The Immigration and Nationality Act is on course for a substantial makeover.

According to the Washington Post, President Obama is weighing a range of proposals for executive action that would loosen and broaden a range of federal administrative rules impacting eligibility for lawful U.S. immigration.  According to various immigration advocacy groups, the rule changes should significantly increase fiscal year quotas in family and employment-based categories.  The question remains, of course, to what degree and with which moving parts that excuse present inadmissibility rules.

Obama “believes it’s important to understand and consider a full range of perspectives,” according to a White House spokesman.  New categories of skilled and labor-intensive work visas may emerge that allow illegal immigrants without family sponsorship to apply to temporarily stay in the U.S. and work their way toward eventual immigration.  Such a balancing stroke would complement a much more consequential move to grant provisional resident status to relatives of U.S. citizens (mostly native-born children) and permanent residents or those already granted deferred action.

Inside information from excited advocates should be viewed as unfocused yet fairly scoped given the immigration reform movement’s historical crescendo, the political calendar and the president’s stated intentions. Stay tuned for the latest as this monumental event shapes up.