LOS ANGELES (AP) — Federal immigration authorities are urging qualified immigrants to apply for President Barack Obama’s reprieve from deportation and trying to dispel fears that a future administration might unravel the program.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services director Leon Rodriguez on Monday told immigrant advocates at a Los Angeles conference that in the past presidents have respected immigration measures taken by their predecessors.

He told reporters that immigration officers don’t share applicants’ information with enforcement authorities unless an applicant has a disqualifying criminal history or is a national security threat.

Rodriguez says his agency will hire as many as 1,000 immigration officers to process applications.

The program could give work permits and deportation protection to nearly 5 million immigrants in the country illegally. At least 20 states have sued to block the measure.