Immigration lawyers are being inundated with phone calls after President Barack Obama announced some undocumented young people would get legal protection from being deported.

Ashwin Sharma, who practices immigration law in Jacksonville, said his phone has been ringing off the hook since the announcement.

"People can't believe they actually passed something to help them with legality," Sharma said.

The plan is to allow undocumented workers 30 and younger who came to the U.S. before the age of 16 to apply for deferred action. That means for two years, those workers don't have to worry about being deported and they can work legally.

"They can come out into the open and contribute to our economy, and they could result in billions, and we could have the next Steve Jobs within this group," Sharma said.

Sharma said the problem is this policy can open the door for fraud by so-called "notarios," people who have no legal background trying to file these cases to make a quick buck.

"I've seen them charge excessive fees," Sharma said. "I've seen cases where they have not filed anything or entered a date incorrectly."

Sharma said a notario can actually damage or destroy an immigrant's case. So he said people should do their research.

"There is a burden that comes with being a client, and you need be be forewarned and investigate, and you need to take care because this is your career and your life at stake," Sharma said.

To find a reputable immigration lawyer in your area, go to the American Immigration Lawyers Association's website at AILA.org. The government is expected to start accepting applications for deferred action by the middle of August.