CHAIN GANG:

As for her parents, Viktor Knavs is a former member of the Yugoslav Communist Party who worked as the chauffeur for the mayor of his home town, Sevnica, and eventually became a successful car salesman. He was born in 1944, making him two years older than the president. Amalija Knavs was a pattern maker at a textile factory. They are now said to be retired.

According to various news reports, the Knavses have been living in the United States at least a year and probably much longer -- possibly since the mid-2000s. Since Melania Trump moved into the White House, some reports have suggested they live there. Other reports have said they split their time between the D.C. area, Mar-a-Lago, Trump Tower and Bedminster, N.J. They apparently help take care of Barron Trump, the president's 11-year-old child.

"The hyperinvolved Slovenian grandparents currently live with their daughter and grandson in the Trump Tower penthouse and spend most weekends with the Trumps at Mar-a-Lago, or at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey," Politico reported in June.

The White House initially refused to comment on their immigration status. "I don't comment on her parents, as they live private lives and are not part of the administration," said Stephanie Grisham, spokeswoman for the first lady.

Here are the possible options, according to immigration experts.

Legal permanent residence

They could be here on an IR-5 visa, meaning they are legal permanent residents because they are the parents of a U.S. citizen. Kevin Johnson, dean of the University of California at Davis Law School, believes this is the most likely option, even though the administration's immigration proposal would limit family visas to spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, ending "extended-family chain migration."

"If I were advising Trump, Melania's parents would be admitted as immigrants as the immediate relative of a United States citizen if they were planning on moving here permanently, especially given the fact that there is talk to eliminate this basis for immigration," said Matthew L. Kolken, a Buffalo immigration attorney.

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